Expression of epidermal growth factor precursor cDNA in animal cells

This chapter outlines in detail the optimal conditions for the expression of human recombinant proteins in mouse cells using a bovine papillomavirus-based mammalian expression vector. The procedures we have described were used to successfully express high levels of the human EGF precursor in our laboratory and the human insulin receptor in the laboratory of Whittaker. Using this experimental approach we were able to demonstrate that expression of a cDNA for prepro-EGF produces a glycosylated membrane protein with biological activity.