Optimized expression of serotonin receptors inmammalian cells using inducible expression systems

摘要

Efficient expression of neurotransmitter receptor proteins in a pure and active form has become an indispensable tool for modern pharmaceutical research. Different expression systems for producing receptor proteins have been used with varying success, but the expression levels are often low or not stable over a long period of time. We evaluated different inducible expression systems for the stable, high-level expression of several serotonin receptors. Using the human interleukin-6 promoter, which is inducible by a variety of biological and chemical agents, only modest expression levels were obtained. Most likely, this is due to a down-regulation of the receptors by the inducing agents used. More successful was the type I interferon-inducible Mx promoter, with which high-level and stable expression of four different serotonin receptors was obtained for several months. Finally, the tetracycline-inducible expression system was also tested and resulted in a still higher expression, with induction levels varying from 10- tot 700-fold.