Fig. 1. In mammalian cells, the complete ORF of MIC3 is expressed as a dimeric pro-protein (R-proMIC3). Western blot analysis of cells transfected with MIC3 gene. Lane 1, T.gondii lysate; lane 2, lysate of BHK-21 cells transfected with plasmid p-SS-PRO-MIC3; lane 3, control (BHK-21 cells transfected with empty plasmid pcDNA3). Molecular weight standards are indicated. Anti-MIC3 mAb (A) and anti-pro-peptide serum (B) labeled the same band in immunoblot of cells transfected with the entire MIC3 gene. In contrast, anti- pro-peptide labeled only faintly the small amount of the proMIC3 in tachyzoite lysate, which co-migrated with recombinant MIC3.