Mogam Biotechnology Research Institute

Yung-Dae Yun

Hong-Mo Moon

Joon-Sang Park

Doo-Sik Kim

Kwang-Hoe Chung

Jae-Hoon Hwang

Jung-Seob Kim

You-Seok Koh

Mi-Kyung Min

Hyun-Sook Lee

The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins employing Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transformed with recombinant expression vectors containing the hepatitis C virus genome. The present invention provides CHO cells cotransfected with DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) minigene pDCHIP and recombinant expression vectors containing cDNAs of HCV E1 and E2/NS1 ligated with tissue plasminogen activator signal sequence. HCV E1 and E2/NS1 envelope glycoproteins are produced in a massive manner from the transformed CHO cells adapted in methotrexate. The HCV envelope glycoproteins produced by the present invention can be applied to the development of a diagnostic reagent and a potential preventive HCV vaccine.

Process for preparing hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins

The present invention relates to a novel cDNA of direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease ('Salmonase') which is prepared from a Korean viper, Salmosa(Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus), and a direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease deduced therefrom. The cDNA of direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease contains 699 nucleotides coding for 233 amino acids, and the Salmonase translated therefrom consists of two subunits of 77 and 156 amino acids, respectively. Salmonase cDNA of the invention may be expressed in the proper systems established in the recombinant E. coli, yeast, baculovirus/insect cells and other animal cells, and the recombinant Salmonase prepared therefrom can be practically applied as an active ingredient of thrombolytic and hemostatic agents.

CDNA of direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease

Inhibitor of hepatitis B virus replication

Growing community of inventors

Seoul, South Korea

Yung-Dae Yun