The Expression of HCG Epitope Fused to Hepatits B Virus Core Antigen.

The DNA fragments encoding HGC-beta-37-CTP was amplified by PCR and fused to the core gene of HBV at the position of amino Acid 1(N-terminal fusion, pCn-HCG), 154(C-terminal fusion, pCc-HCG), 75-83(internal fusion,pCm-HCG), and both 75-83 and 154 (pC-HCG2) respectively. The fused genes were expressed in E. coli, and the antigenicity of both HBcAg and HCG as well as the expression level were analyzed. In addition, the chimeric particular characteristics of the proteins and their immunogenicity were identified. It revealed that the fusion proteins pCm-HCG and pCc-HCG were able to form particles, and that the fusion protein pCm-HCG could induce antibody of anti-HCG of high titers in mice, suggesting that the position at 75-83 amino acid residue should be a relatively promising fusion site for HCG.