%0 Journal Article %T Optimizing production of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in non-pathogenic Leishmania by two genetic constructs %A Hemayatkar M %A Davoudi N %A Davami F %A Majidzadeh-A K %J Tehran University Medical Journal %D 2011 %I Tehran University of Medical Sciences %X "nBackground: Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is one of the most important thrombolytic agents used in patients with vascular occlusions such as acute ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction. A variety of recombinant protein expression systems have been developed for heterologous gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. In recent years, Leishmania tarentolae (L. tarentolae), a non-pathogenic trypanosomatid protozoa, has come under consideration because of its safety and immunogenicity as a vaccine vector and special attributes in the expression of complex proteins. This study was done to improve rt-PA expression in this protozoon and create the opportunity for the replacement of rt-PA gene with other genes for the production of other complex proteins."n "n Methods: Two expression cassettes were used for the integration of two copies of t-PA cDNA, one copy in each cassette, into the parasite genome by electroporation. The transformed clones were selected by antibiotic resistancy. The expression of active secreted rt-PA was confirmed by Western blot analysis and Chromolize assay."n "n Results: Appearance of a 64 kD band in nitrocellulose membrane in the Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of full-length rt-PA in the culture media. Chromolize assay showed the expression levels of active recombinant t-PA in single and double transfected L. tarentolae clones- 375 IU/ml and 480 IU/ml of the culture media, respectively."n "n Conclusion: The produced rt-PA in the culture media containing the transfected cells was at least seven times higher than what has been reported in previous studies on L. tarentolae or on some other eukaryotic systems. %K Expression %K leishmania tarentolae %K tissue plasminogen activator %K t-PA %U http://journals.tums.ac.ir/PdfMed.aspx?pdf_med=/upload_files/pdf/17515.pdf&manuscript_id=17515