Regulated expression of sFRP-1 protein by the GeneSwitch system

Protein Expr Purif. 2004 Oct;37(2):327-35. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2004.06.029.

Abstract

The GeneSwitch system is a mifepristone-inducible expression system that provides exceptionally low uninduced and high-induced protein expression in mammalian cells. We have developed an adenovirus recombinant containing GeneSwitch protein driven by the GAL4-tk promoter, as well as recombinants containing sFRP-1 and luciferase reporter under the control of the GAL4-E1b promoter. Luciferase activity in A549 cells infected with the GeneSwitch and Luciferase viruses is very low in ethanol-treated cells, while the level of luciferase activity increases 200-fold in cells treated with mifepristone. Conditional expression of functional sFRP-1 is demonstrated in A549, human osteoblast, and CHO cell lines by either the co-infection of cells with sFRP-1 and GeneSwitch viruses or the infection of GeneSwitch expressing cell lines with sFRP-1 virus and subsequent treatment with mifepristone. The expression of sFRP-1 is seen as early as 4 h post-mifepristone treatment, reaching the highest levels at 20 h. The sFRP-1 protein is present in conditioned media, and the protein is functional based upon its ability to inhibit the Wnt-mediated activation of TCF-Luciferase reporter activity. The regulated expression of sFRP-1 utilizing adenovirus vectors provides an opportunity to address the contribution of sFRP-1 in the regulation of stem cell differentiation, maturation, and their function by modulating the Wnt signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cricetinae
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Ethanol / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genetic Techniques*
  • Hormone Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mifepristone / pharmacology*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Wnt Proteins

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Hormone Antagonists
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • SFRP1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Mifepristone
  • Ethanol
  • RNA
  • Luciferases