Robertson D L, Leppla S H
Gene. 1986;44(1):71-8. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(86)90044-2.
We have cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli the lethal factor (LF) gene of Bacillus anthracis. At least two of the six LF recombinant plasmids produce full-length LF protein. Transcription of the LF gene in E. coli appears to be under the control of its own B. anthracis promoter. Recombinant LF protein produced in E. coli remains intracellular and is not secreted. However, this LF protein is biochemically active and displays the same lethal effects as LF secreted by B. anthracis in the mouse macrophage assay. The LF gene, like that of the protective antigen gene, is present on the large B. anthracis toxin plasmid pXO1.
我们已在大肠杆菌中克隆并表达了炭疽芽孢杆菌的致死因子（LF）基因。六个LF重组质粒中至少有两个产生全长LF蛋白。LF基因在大肠杆菌中的转录似乎受其自身炭疽芽孢杆菌启动子的控制。在大肠杆菌中产生的重组LF蛋白保留在细胞内，不分泌。然而，这种LF蛋白具有生化活性，并且在小鼠巨噬细胞试验中显示出与炭疽芽孢杆菌分泌的LF相同的致死作用。与保护性抗原基因一样，LF基因存在于炭疽芽孢杆菌大毒素质粒pXO1上。
