Methods for in vitro cleavage of ubiquitin fusion proteins

US5196321A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Andreas Bachmair · Cologne, DE
• Daniel J. Finley · Cambridge, US
• Alexander Varshavsky · Pasadena, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 15, 1992
• Grant date: Mar 23, 1993
• Expiry date: Jan 15, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07K2319/95
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methods of designing or modifying protein structure at the protein or genetic level to produce specified amino-termini in vivo or in vitro are described. The methods can be used to alter the metabolic stability and other properties of the protein or, alternatively, to artificially generate authentic amino-termini in proteins produced through artificial means. The methods are based upon the introduction of the use of artificial ubiquitin-protein fusions, and the discovery that the in vivo half-life of a protein is a function of the amino-terminal amino acid of the protein.