Production and characterization of biologically active recombinant beta nerve growth factor.

DNA fragments encoding either rat or chicken beta nerve growth factor (NGF) were inserted in the expression vector p91023(B) for transient expression in COS cells. The two NGF constructs produced RNA transcripts and proteins of the predicted sizes. Conditioned media from the transfected cells stimulated neurite outgrowth from cultured chicken embryo sympathetic ganglia. The results show that the rat or chicken NGF gene can direct the synthesis of a biologically active NGF protein after transfection of COS cells.