| abstract |
In order to recombinantly produce a biologically active protein of the TGF β superfamily, a protein is expressed in prokaryotes. The amino terminus of this expressed protein consists of the prosequence of a protein of the TGF β superfamily or portions thereof, to which the mature domain of this protein or of another protein of the TGF β superfamily is joined, said protein having at least 35 % homology to mature BMP-2. The expression of the protein is carried out under conditions in which at least one portion of the protein is obtained in the form of inclusion bodies. The inclusion bodies are isolated and are solubilized under denaturing conditions. The denatured, monomeric and biologically inactive protein, which is solubilized from the inclusion bodies, is natured while folding and dimerizing to the soluble, biologically active conformation and, optionally, the mature protein is proteolytically released from its proform after naturation. |