Enhancing expression of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells using the herpesvirus VP16 transactivator.

The herpesvirus VP16 transactivator has become a useful tool for facilitating the production of recombinant proteins in cultured mammalian cells. Not only does it afford the rapid isolation of stable high-level producer cell lines, but also VP16-expressing cells have been found to rival COS cells in their ability to express proteins transiently. Some of the most interesting developments have been the expression of heterodimeric receptors and soluble forms of membrane proteins.