Synthesis of human virus antigens by yeast
US6475489B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S530/826
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to synthesis of HBsAg in yeast. Yeast expression vectors comprising a yeast promoter, ADH1, have been constructed. The region of the HBV genome coding for the S-protein, excluding a possible 163 amino acid presequence, has been transferred to the yeast expression vector. Using the described yeast vector, the successful synthesis of HBsAg by yeast has been achieved. The product is antigenic (reactive with anti-HBsAg), and a substantial portion is found associated with particles identical in electron microscopic appearance to those found in the serum of HBV-infected patients and in Alexander cells but having a smaller particle size diameter. The HBSAg synthesized by yeast has identical sedimentation behavior to purified, naturally-occurring HBsAq particles purified from Alexander cells as measured by sucrose gradient sedimentation. The present invention demonstrates synthesis and assembly of a higher ordered multi-component structure resulting from expression of a heterologous DNA coding segment in a microorganism.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.