HST-1 TRANSFORMING PROTEIN - EXPRESSION IN SILKWORM CELLS AND CHARACTERIZATION AS A NOVEL HEPARIN-BINDING GROWTH-FACTOR

Abstract

A protein encoded by an hst-1 transforming gene was expressed in silkworm-derived BmN cells and secreted into the culture medium using a recombinant baculovirus vector. The strong affinity for heparin of the secreted protein made it possible to purify the hst-1 protein to homogeneity in a two-step procedure. The purified hst-1 protein has a molecular weight of 18,000 and stimulates both DNA synthesis in NIH3T3 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation. In addition, morphological changes and anchorage-independent growth of NIH3T3 cells are induced by this product. These results show that the hst-1 transforming protein is a novel heparin-binding growth factor as predicted by nucleotide sequence analysis.