PESTIVIRUS REPLICASE -BASED SELF-REPLICATING RNA-REPLICON VECTOR FOR HETEROLOGOUS GENE EXPRESSION IN MAMMILIAN CELLS

摘要

This invention relates with the identification of sequence elements of Pestivirus useful for developing a Pestivirus replicase-based RNA-replicon which can replicate itself and produce large number of copies of RNA transcripts (52 times more copies than other conventional expression vectors). The expression vector developed utilizing these sequence elements can be used for high level expression of heterologous gene in transfected mammalian cells. The developed expression vector has been used to express small protein (26.9 kDa, green fluorescent protein) as well as large protein (116.4 kDa, ß-galactosidase protein). Similarly, other heterologous genes can be inserted into multiple cloning sites and analysed for protein expression in transfected mammalian cells.