[Preparation and purification of a polypeptide containing antigenic determinants of hepatitis C core protein]

A method has been developed for preparing and purifying recombinant polypeptide--hepatitis C virus core protein (HCcoreAg) expressed in E. coli from pFC105-302 plasmid coding for 150 N-terminal amino acids of HCcoreAg in the hybrid from the C-terminal with beta-galactosidase. HCcoreAg was purified by ion-exchange chromatography on P-11 phosphocellulose. The bulk of protein carrying HCcoreAg antigenic determinants was found in two polypeptides: with molecular weights 26 and 136 kD. Antigenic and immunogenic properties of the resultant polypeptide were studied. The 26 kD protein can be used in enzyme immunoassay and immunoblotting as antigen for detecting antibodies to the HCV core protein. The results of immunization of rabbits indicate a high immunogenic activity of the protein. High diagnostic value of HCcoreAg preparation has been demonstrated, for the rapid variant of indirect solid-phase enzyme immunoassay among other tests.