Patent ID: 6100064
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N,C12Q

Abstract:
A method of increasing the secretion of a viral protein comprising:(a) providing a population of host cells transformed with a recombinant vector, wherein said vector comprises a polynucleotide linked in proper reading frame to control sequences whereby the polynucleotide can be transcribed and translated in the host cell, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a viral protein selected from the group consisting of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) gB, and a CMV gB with a modified endoproteolytic cleavage site such that cleavage of the gB protein is inhibited, wherein the viral protein lacks a transmembrane-encoding domain but comprises a sequence encoding substantially all of an homologous C-terminal cytoplasmic domain; and(b) culturing the population of cells under conditions whereby the protein encoded by the polynucleotide is expressed and secreted, wherein the protein is secreted at a higher level than the corresponding protein which comprises truncation of both the transmembrane domain and the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain.