Expression of a DNA sequence encoding for the pre-S2 region of hepatitis B virus in E. coli

Abstract

A DNA sequence involving pre-S2 region of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was inserted between ompF and lacZ gene of the plasmid pORFl to give a recombinant plasmid pHBSC20. In the plasmid pHBSC20 harboring E. coli TK1046 cells, a “tribrid” protein with the translation product of the insert sandwiched between OmpF and -galactosidase was produced. The fusion protein was detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the antigenicity of the pre-S2 region was determined by immunoblot analysis. The amount of the fusion protein was estimated as much as 1-5% of the total bacterial protein by densitometric scanning of the Coomassie blue-stained gel. Thus, bacteria transformed with pHBSC20 can provide abundant source of pre-S2- p -galactosidase fusion protein in which production of HBV vaccine. the pre-S2 region may be useful for the