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. 1986 Nov;83(21):8258–8262. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.21.8258

Genetic construction, expression, and melanoma-selective cytotoxicity of a diphtheria toxin-related alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone fusion protein.

J R Murphy, W Bishai, M Borowski, A Miyanohara, J Boyd, S Nagle
PMCID: PMC386907  PMID: 3095831

Abstract

The structural gene for diphtheria toxin, tox, has been modified at its Sph I site by the introduction of an oligonucleotide linker encoding a unique Pst I restriction endonuclease site and a synthetic oligonucleotide encoding alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). The resulting fusion gene directs the expression of a diphtheria toxin-related alpha-MSH hybrid protein in which the diphtheria toxin receptor-binding domain has been replaced with alpha-MSH sequences. The chimeric toxin has been partially purified from periplasmic extracts of recombinant Escherichia coli K-12 and has been found to be selectively toxic for alpha-MSH receptor-positive human malignant melanoma NEL-M1 cells in vitro.

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Selected References

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