PROCESS FOR RECOVERING NATIVE DOMAINS OF VIRAL MEMBRANE PROTEINS, THEIR USE, IN PARTICULAR AS VACCINE AGAINST HIV.

摘要

PCT No. PCT/DE94/00022 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 29, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 29, 1995 PCT Filed Jan. 12, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO94/16081 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 21, 1994The present invention is relative to a method for the obtention of native domains of viral membrane proteins, especially of native, that is, oligomeric and glycosylated ectodomains of the surface protein gp160 of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV, the causative agent of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), as well as the native protein domains themselves obtained by this method, especially native ectodomains of the env glycoprotein of HIV whose monomers exhibit an electrophoretic mobility of approximately 140 kD as well as their use as vaccine, especially as vaccine against HIV. A nucleotide sequence coding for a recognition sequence for protein-splitting enzymes is inserted at a suitable site into the gene coding for the precursor protein of the protein domain to be obtained. After expression of the gene mutant in eukaryotic cells a digestion with a suitable enzyme is carried out and the protein domain to be obtained is subsequently purified.