Cloning and expression of the cDNA encoding prolyl oligopeptidase (prolyl endopeptidase) from bovine brain

Prolyl oligopeptidase (EC 3.4.21.26, prolyl endopeptidase) cDNA from bovine brain was cloned by PCR, and the amplified fragment was used as a probe to screen the cDNA library from bovine brain. The obtained clone contained a 2.7 kb DNA fragment with an open reading frame of 2130 nucleotides, and encoded a protein of 710 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 80640 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence is 95, 94, 51 and 48% homologous to those of human T-cell, porcine brain, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Flavobacterium meningosepticum prolyl endopeptidases, respectively. The bovine brain prolyl endopeptidase-encoding cDNA was expressed using an expression vector bearing a tac promoter, with an approximate yield of 20 micrograms/ml of cell culture.