Production of rat Spot14 protein in Escherichia coli

Hormonal, nutritional and developmental factors modulate, in rat lipogenic tissues, the transcription of the mRNA coding for a protein of unknown function, called Spot14 (S14). The corresponding protein has never been purified from tissues. In this paper, we describe the production of S14 in Escherichia coli. In the absence of available antibodies (Ab) directed against S14 protein, our strategy was to produce this protein by constructing two different recombinant expression vectors. The first recombinant plasmid produced a S14::protein A fusion which was easily purified and then rabbit Ab could be raised against it. The second expression vector directly produced S14. This expression was demonstrated by specific binding of polyclonal Ab directed against the fusion protein. These Ab also recognized a rat-liver protein sharing characteristics of S14.