Production and characterization of recombinant mouse brain-derived neurotrophic factor and rat neurotrophin-3 expressed in insect cells.

Bioactive brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 were produced using the baculovirus expression system and purified to homogeneity using ion-exchange and reversed-phase chromatography. Yields of purified neurotrophin-3 (300-500 micrograms/L) were similar to levels reported for baculovirus-expressed nerve growth factor (NGF), whereas initial yields of BDNF were significantly lower (20-50 micrograms/L). Improved production of BDNF (150-200 micrograms/L) was achieved by expressing BDNF from a chimeric prepro-NGF/mature BDNF construct using the Trichoplusia ni insect cell line. Tn-5B1-4. Examination of the distribution of BDNF protein from both the non-chimeric prepro-BDNF and the chimeric prepro-NGF/mature BDNF viruses in Sf-21- and Tn-5B1-4-infected cells suggests a specific deficiency in the Tn-5B1-4 cells in processing the nonchimeric precursor. In addition, the vast majority of the BDNF protein at 2 days after infection was intracellular and insoluble. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of purified recombinant BDNF and neurotrophin-3 demonstrated that the insect cells processed their precursors to the correct N-terminus expected for the mature protein. Bioactivity was characterized in vitro on primary neuronal cultures from the CNS and PNS.