Expression of Nerve Growth Factor from Agkistrodon halys Pallas in Silkworm Larvae.

The cDNA encoding nerve growth factor (NGF) precursor from Agkistrodon halys Pallas (a Chinese snake species) was cloned into pBacPAK8 a baculovirus shuttle vector. The recombinant shuttle vector pBacPAK-NGF was coinfected with linear Bm-BacPAK6 DNA into BmN cells. The recombinant virus was screened and plaque-purified. The silkworm larvae were infected with the recombinant virus and collected 5 days later. The SDS-PAGE and the NGF activity by bioassay of PC12 cells have shown a high expression level of NGF of good biological activity in the larvae.