[A new Escherichia coli strain producing human tumor necrosis factor]

An Escherichia coli strain producing human tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) was obtained using a semisynthetic gene partially optimized in respect of codon composition and a phage T7 promoter. The expression product was accumulated in cells as inclusion bodies in a yield of 50-70 mg/l of culture medium. The recombinant TNF-alpha in the form of inclusion bodies was used for immunization of rats to give a polyclonal antiserum. The resulting antibodies were specific under the immunoblotting conditions to the antigen used for the immunization. A dilution-based refolding procedure was developed; it provided a yield of soluble protein exceeding 85%.