PRODUCTION OF PROTEIN CONTAINING MAMMAL SELENOCYSTEINE IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To produce the subject protein obtained by a genetic manipulation, including a specific amino acid sequence including selenocysteine, having activities for reducing thioredoxin, and used for prevention and treatment of disease caused by an active oxygen and a free radical. SOLUTION: This protein is a new protein obtained by a genetic manipulation, including an amino acid sequence of the formula, in which Xaa of amino acid number 503 is selenocysteine, or a new protein having the amino acid sequence with substituted, deleted or inserted one or more amino acids at one or more positions without the amino acid number 503 in the amino acid sequence, in which the Xaa of the amino acid number 503 is selenocysteine. The protein has activities for reducing thioredoxin, and is useful as a preventive and a treating agent for disease caused by an active oxygen and a free radical, such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes, ischaemia injury, edema, inflammation, liver disorder, chemical carcinogenesis, metastasis, autoimmune disease, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.