Soluble expression of a synthetic gene for human translation initiation factor 4E in Escherichia coli

In order to obtain the active form of recombinant human initiation factor (eIF) 4E effectively, an artificial synthetic gene was cloned into an expression vector (pMAL-p2) and the soluble expression was attempted in Escherichia coli under the control of a tac promoter. Two expression systems were finally constructed as a fusion protein with maltose-binding protein, which contain a recognition sequence for the site specific protease alpha-thrombin and factor Xa, respectively. Most of the fusion protein was induced as a soluble form. The soluble human eIF-4E digested from the fusion protein showed binding specificity for the m7GTP affinity column.