Abstract:
The invention relates to the establishment of expression vectors replicable in a mammalian cell, including a DNA sequence encoding human prosaposin (PSAP) or Saposin C, operably linked with regulatory DNA capable of effecting the expression of the PSAP and Saposin C DNA coding sequence in the cells. In addition, the invention relates to mammalian cells (CHO-K1) stably transfected with such expression vectors and methods of producing human Saposin C or PSAP, including transfecting a mammalian cell with expression vectors, maintaining and propagating the cell in culture medium, and isolating soluble rh-Saposin C or rh-PSAP from the medium. Purified rh-Saposin C and rh-PSAP are useful as reagents for studying biological responses and signal transduction mechanism in benign or malignant cells, as standard proteins in diagnosis or screening of benign or malignant diseases, or as medicine for the treatment of diseases or disorders affecting musculoskeletal system or peripheral and central nervous system.