Compounds, vectors and methods for expressing human, cytosolic phospholipase A.sub.2

Abstract

The invention includes recombinant DNA compounds, vectors and methods useful for expressing an exceptionally rare, human, cytosolic phospholipase A.sub.2 (cPLA.sub.2) enzyme. The invention also includes a method for screening compounds to identify inhibitors of cPLA.sub.2 which is believed to partake in several disease processes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention belongs to the general field of molecular biology and includes recombinant DNA compounds, vectors and methods useful for expressing an exceptionally rare, human, cytosolic phospholipase A.sub.2 (cPLA.sub.2) enzyme. The invention also includes a method for screening compounds to identify inhibitors of cPLA.sub.2.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Before the present invention, there was no facile method for obtaining cPLA.sub.2 in substantial quantities. Human cPLA.sub.2 and a method of purification is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/573,513. Antibodies reactive with cPLA.sub.2 and methods for isolating and identifying cPLA.sub.2 are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/663,335. At best those methods are capable of providing only limited amounts of cPLA.sub.2 because of its scarcity in the cytoplasm of cells which naturally contain it. To illustrate the extremely rare nature of cPLA.sub.2 and to highlight the problem solved by this invention, it need only be mentioned that less than 100 ugs of cPLA.sub.2 exists in all of the cells present in an 80 liter culture of a human monocytic cell line. Thus, the present invention overcomes the difficulties of obtaining relatively large amounts of this rare and important enzyme.

Phospholipase A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2) is the common name for phosphatide 2-acylhydrolase which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 acyl ester bond of phosphoglycerides producing equimolar amounts of lysophospholipids and free fatty acids (Dennis, E. A., The Enzymes Vol. 16, Academic Press, New York,(1983)). Phospholipase A.sub.2 enzymes are found in all living species and form a diverse family of enzymes. Of those studied co date, the vast majority have a molecular weight of approximately 14 kDa, and their amino acid sequences show great homology.

The most abundant and commonly studied PLA.sub.2 enzymes are the secreted forms. These enzymes are produced within the cell, packaged into secretory vesicles and later released into the extracellular environment where they aid in the digestion of biological material. In contrast, cPLA.sub.2 is found in vanishingly small amounts, remains within the cell and serves in an entirely different capacity than the secreted forms. Thorough investigation of intracellular PLA.sub.2 s has been hampered by the extremely low concentration of these enzymes in cells (Vadas and Pruzanski, Lab. Investigation, 55, 4: 391 (1986)).

The ability to modulate receptor mediated cPLA.sub.2 activity via specific inhibitors is a desirable goal and may lead to new therapies for the treatment of asthma, ischemia, arthritis, septic shock, and inflammatory diseases of the skin. The inactivation or specific inhibition of cPLA.sub.2 activity associated with particular disease states will be of great use to the medical community. To accomplish this goal, cPLA.sub.2 presumed to be involved in the pathogenesis of certain diseases must first be identified and isolated. This has been done and was described in an earlier filed U.S. patent application mentioned above. The present invention provides genes which encode cPLA.sub.2, vectors and host cells which are useful for expressing cPLA.sub.2 and methods for expressing cPLA.sub.2.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses cPLA.sub.2 genes comprising a recombinant DNA sequence that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 as well as vectors and host cells that comprise the DNA sequence. Also encompassed in the invention is a method of using a cPLA.sub.2 gene comprising transforming a cell with an expression vector comprising a cPLA.sub.2 -encoding gene. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of using a cPLA.sub.2 gene comprising culturing a cell transformed by a cPLA.sub.2 expression vector in a suitable growth medium and isolating cPLA.sub.2 from said cultured cell. The invention also includes a method of using a cPLA.sub.2 -encoding gene to screen drugs comprising contacting the isolated cPLA.sub.2 enzyme with a compound suspected of being able to inhibit the enzymatic activity of said cPLA.sub.2 and determining whether the cPLA.sub.2 enzymatic activity has been inhibited by the compound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a restriction site and function map of pHDCPF.

FIG. 2 is a restriction site and function map of pHDCPFS.

FIG. 3 is a restriction site and function map of pECPLA.sub.21.

FIG. 4 shows the enzymatic activity versus protein content found in transformed and non-transformed E. coli cells. The data unmistakably illustrates that the E. coli cells which were transformed with one of the vectors of the invention express significantly more cPLA.sub.2 than the control cells.

FIG. 5 shows the results of a transient expression experiment using a 293 cell culture transformed with vector pHDCPFS.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the cPLA.sub.2 activity of pHDCPFS transformed AV12 hamster cell lines.

FIG. 8 shows the cPLA.sub.2 activity of a pHDCPFS transformed 293 human kidney cell line.

FIG. 9 represents an immunoblot comparing cPLA.sub.2 expression in a pECPLA22 transformed E. coli culture (lane 1) with a non-transformed E. coli culture (lane 2) and naturally-occurring cPLA.sub.2 isolated from a human monoblastoid cell line (lane 3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The heart of this invention is the isolated, purified human cPLA.sub.2 cDNA which was enzymatically copied from the messenger RNA as found in nature. Its DNA sequence is given in SEQ. ID. NO:1, and the amino acid sequence which it encodes is laid out in SEQ. ID. NO:2. Based on the degeneracy of the genetic code, those skilled in the art will recognize that many other nucleotide sequences of the same length are capable of encoding the cPLA.sub.2 enzyme. All such sequences are also a part of the invention due to information which the natural sequence inherently contains.

The invention as a whole comprises cPLA.sub.2 -encoding DNA sequences, recombinant DNA vectors, recombinant host cells and methods of use. Each of the above embodiments is limited by the protein sequence encoded by the claimed DNA sequences. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that heterologous proteins often undergo enzymatic digestion when expressed in foreign host cells. For example, it is well known that N-terminal methionine residues, preceding a serine residue, are often removed by certain enzymes in prokaryotic cells and as such are contemplated in this invention. Moreover, the invention is not limited by the illustrations and examples used to help describe the invention.

For purposes of this document, a recombinant DNA vector can also be referred to as simply a vector. Both terms include two types of vectors, cloning and expression vectors. A cloning vector, as those skilled in the art know, is a plasmid capable of replication in an appropriate host cell. An expression vector is a plasmid capable of having a particular protein coding sequence in the plasmid transcribed and translated into a polypeptide. Both vectors preferably contain a selectable marker such as an antibiotic resistance gene which permits only transformed cells to grow in a selective medium.

In one embodiment, the invention provides recombinant DNA cloning vectors containing cPLA.sub.2 -encoding DNA sequences. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the utility of such vectors as a means for obtaining a cPLA.sub.2 gene, propagating it, constructing other useful recombinant DNA vectors, and using those vectors for a variety of purposes.

Another embodiment includes recombinant DNA expression vectors useful for obtaining substantial amounts of the heretofore extremely rare cPLA.sub.2 enzyme. Given the cPLA.sub.2 -encoding DNA sequences of the invention, those skilled in the art will be readily able to construct expression vectors using known functional elements. Four typical expression vectors are described below to help illustrate this aspect of the invention. The following vectors are described only for illustrative purposes and are not meant to limit the invention in any way.

Two different strains of E. coli were transformed with four expression vectors, and the resulting recombinant host cells were deposited with the Northern Regional Research Laboratories (NRRL) under the terms of the Budapest Treaty. Each vector has the functional elements necessary for replication in its host cell strain, thus constituting cloning vectors. Two of the deposited vectors also function as prokaryotic expression vectors, and two function as eukaryotic expression vectors. Each vector will be discussed in turn.

Plasmid pECPLA21, NRRL accession number 18774, was used to transform E. coli strain K12 DH5 alpha. The DNA sequence of SEQ. ID. NO:1 is the cPLA.sub.2 -encoding portion of the vector. The vector also contains an origin of replication sequence, a tetracycline resistance-conferring (tet) sequence, a temperature sensitive repressor (cI857) that regulates an inducible promoter sequence (P.sub.L), and a transcription termination sequence, all of E. coli or lambda phage origin. The aforementioned functional elements of the plasmid enable the host cell to replicate numerous copies of the plasmid and, upon induction, to transcribe and translate the cPLA.sub.2 gene. Those skilled in the art will of course realize that numerous other sequences having like functions may be substituted for those actually used in pECPLA21.

Plasmid pECPLA22, NRRL accession number 18775, is believed to be identical to pECPLA21. However, since it arose from a different clone, it is possible that it differs from pECPLA21 by a few base pairs, particularly in the splicing regions. Nonetheless, pECPLA22 is functionally indistinguishable from pECPLA21 in that it contains an origin of replication sequence, a tet gene, the cI857 temperature sensitive repressor that regulates the P.sub.L inducible promoter sequence, and a transcription termination sequence as well as DNA SEQ. ID. NO:1. A different strain of E. coli (E. coli K12.times.E. coli B hybrid RR1) was transformed with pECPLA22 in hope of gaining expression advantages over the previously discussed transformed strain. To date, both transformed E. coli strains appear equivalent with respect to expression and handling properties.

Two different eukaryotic expression vectors, pHDCPF and pHDCPFS, were constructed around SEQ. ID. NO:1. The vectors are identical except that pHDCPF contains the IS10 bacterial insertion sequence 3' to SEQ. ID. NO:1.

The IS10 insertion sequence appeared in the 3' noncoding region of the cPLA.sub.2 cDNA, producing a plasmid that appeared to be a more stable form than the form lacking IS10. IS10 is well known (Hailing, S. M, and Kleckner, N., Cell, 28, 155 (1982)) and inserts into preferred nine base-pair sites in DNA, two of which appear in the 3' noncoding region of the cPLA.sub.2 gene. Since it was not certain whether IS10 would affect the level of cPLA.sub.2 synthesis, the insertion sequence was eliminated along with both nine base-pair sites in the bacterial expression vectors pECPLA21 and pECPLA22. However, IS10 was included in the eukaryotic expression vector pHDCPF.

Both eukaryotic expression vectors were derived from the same precursor, plasmid pHD. As such, the functional elements of pHD will be discussed and will apply equally to both pHDCPF and pHDCPFS.

The pHD vector contains an E. coli origin of replication and an ampicillin resistance-conferring gene (amp). These elements make it possible for plasmid pHD to function as a cloning vector in E. coli . As discussed previously, the skilled artisan knows that many other sequences are capable of conferring the same properties on a given vector and are routinely substituted for one another based on what is appropriate under the circumstances. For example, the present embodiment is not limited to the amp gene as the selectable marker since many other comparable markers are well-known and used in the art. Other antibiotic resistance-conferring genes such as the tetracycline and kanamycin resistance-conferring genes would also be compatible with the present invention.

The vector also contains two other selectable markers which allows the isolation of eukaryotic clones transformed by the vector. The hygromycin resistance gene (hyg) gives those eukaryotic cells transformed by the vector the ability to grow in medium containing hygromycin at concentrations which inhibit the growth of non-transformed cells, approximately 200 to 400 ug/ml. The other selectable marker which can also be used to amplify expression is the murine dihydrofolate reductase (DHRF) gene. This gene is known in the art and enables eukaryotic cells to be selected based on resistance to approximately 0.5 to 130 uM methotrexate.

In the pHD vector, the adenovirus-2 major late promoter (MLP) drives expression of the gene of interest, cPLA.sub.2 in this case. Those skilled in the art can readily imagine numerous other eukaryotic promoters that could function in place of MLP. Examples include, but are not limited to, the SV40 early and late promoters, the estrogen-inducible chicken ovalbumin gene promoter, the promoters of the interferon genes, the glucocorticoid-inducible tyrosine aminotransferase gene promoter, the thymidine kinase gene promoter and the adenovirus early promoter.

Preferred cPLA.sub.2 cloning vectors of the invention are those which function in E. coli. Preferred prokaryotic cPLA.sub.2 vectors are the type which operate as both cloning and expression vectors. More highly preferred prokaryotic cPLA.sub.2 vectors are pECPLA21 and pECPLA22. Preferred eukaryotic cPLA.sub.2 vectors are those which function as cloning vectors in E. coli and also are able to operate as expression vectors in eukaryotic cells. More preferred eukaryotic cPLA.sub.2 vectors have the same properties as the preferred type with the added feature that they function as expression vectors in mammalian cells. More highly preferred eukaryotic cPLA.sub.2 vectors are pHDCPF and pHDCPFS and the most highly preferred is pHDCPFS.

An additional embodiment of the invention includes various types of recombinant DNA host cells. For purposes of this document recombinant DNA host cells may be referred to as recombinant host cells or simply host cells. A recombinant host cell is a cell whose genome has been altered by the addition of foreign DNA. The most common type of host cell is one that has been transformed with a vector containing heterologous DNA. Host cells serve two purposes by providing the cellular machinery to replicate the vector and/or express the protein coding regions in the vector.

Preferred host cells of the invention are E. coli cells containing a vector comprising a cPLA2 gene and can serve in both the cloning and expressing capacity. Because the cPLA2 gene was isolated from human cells, a more preferred host cell is a eukaryotic cell transformed by a eukaryotic expression vector comprising a cPLA2-encoding DNA sequence. More highly preferred host cells are mammalian cell lines transformed by a eukaryotic expression vector comprising a cPLA2 gene. The most preferred host cells are the human embryohal kidney cell line 293 transformed by pHDCPF or pHDCPFS and the AV12 hamster cell line transformed by pHDCPF or pHDCPFS. The most highly preferred cPLA2 host cells of the invention are the human embryonal kidney cell line 293 transformed by pHDCPFS and the AV12 hamster cell line transformed by pHDCPFS. Both non-transformed cell lines are a permanent part of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).

Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of using a cPLA.sub.2 -encoding gene to transform a cell. There is a wide variety of tranformation techniques applicable to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells which will not be discussed, because such transformation methods are old in the art.

A further embodiment of the invention consists of a method of using a cPLA.sub.2 host cell to express cPLA.sub.2. In this embodiment, a host cell, either prokaryotic or eukaryotic, that has been transformed is cultured in an appropriate medium until a substantial cell mass has been obtained. Fermentation of transformed prokaryotes and mass cell culture of transformed eukaryotic cells is old in the art and will not be discussed for that reason.

The second step of this embodiment is the isolation of cPLA.sub.2 from the cultured cells. Two methods for purifying cPLA.sub.2 from a non-transformed mammalian cell line are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/573,513. The following summarizes those methods.

Once grown and harvested, the cultured cells are lysed by nitrogen cavitation in the presence of protease inhibitors. A soluble fraction is prepared from the lysate by ultracentrifugation. The resulting solution of cytosolic proteins contains cPLA.sub.2 and is subjected to a series of purification procedures.

The soluble fraction of the cell lysate is run through a series of column chromatography procedures. Anion exchange chromatography is followed by hydrophobic interaction, molecular sizing and finally another hydrophobic interaction technique where the conditions are such that the cPLA.sub.2 binds the resin weakly. Each column is run individually, and the eluate is collected in fractions while monitoring for absorbance at 280 nm. Fractions are assayed for phospholipase A.sub.2 activity, and those fractions with the desired activity are then run over the next column until a homogeneous solution of cPLA.sub.2 is obtained.

Immunoaffinity purification using anti-cPLA.sub.2 antibodies is an alternative to the series of chromatographic procedures already mentioned. Making antiserum or monoclonal antibodies directed against a purified protein is well known in the art, and skilled artisans readily will be able to prepare anti-cPLA.sub.2 antibodies. Preparing an immunoaffinity matrix using such antibodies and isolating cPLA.sub.2 using the immunoaffinity matrix is also well within the skill of the art. See Affinity Chromatography Principles & Methods, Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, 1983.

The invention also encompasses a method of using a cPLA.sub.2 -encoding gene to screen compounds. By using purified, recombinantly or even naturally produced cPLA.sub.2, it is possible to test whether a particular compound is able to inhibit or block cPLA.sub.2 enzyme activity. By adding the test compound over a wide range of concentrations to the substrate solution described in Example 1 below, it is trivial to determine whether a given compound is able to inhibit or block the enzyme's activity.

The following examples will help describe how the invention is practiced and will illustrate the characteristics of the claimed cPLA.sub.2 -encoding genes, vectors, host cells, and methods of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

cPLA.sub.2 Enzymatic Activity Assay

The substrate, sonicated liposomes containing 1-palmitoyl-2[.sup.14 C]arachidonoyl-sn-glyceo-3-phosphocholine ([.sup.14 C]PC, 55 mCi/mmol from NEN Research Products) and sn-1,2-dioleoylglycerol (DG, Avanti Polar Lipids, Birmingham, Ala.) at a molar ratio of 2:1, was prepared as follows. [.sup.14 C]PC (20 nmol, 1.times.10.sup.6 dpm, 50 uCi/ml in toluene/ethanol) and DG (10 nmol, 100 ug/ml in chloroform) were dried under nitrogen. The lipids were dispersed in 1 ml of 150 mM NaCl, 50 mM Hepes, pH 7.5 (assay buffer) by sonication at 4.degree. C., with a Microson probe-sonicator (Heat Systems Ultrasonics) for 4.times.15 seconds, with 45 second intervals. Bovine serum albumin (essentially fatty acid free, from a 100 mg/ml stock in water, Sigma) was added to a final concentration of 4 mg/ml. Samples to be assayed for cPLA.sub.2 activity were incubated with 50 ul liposomes (0.5 nmol [.sup.14 C]PC, 50,000 dpm containing 0.25 nmol of DG) in a total volume of 0.2 ml of assay buffer containing 1 mM CaCl.sub.2 and 1 mM 2-ME. Incubations were carried out at 37.degree. C. for 15 minutes and terminated by adding 2 ml of Dole's reagent (2-propanol/heptane/0.5M sulfuric acid, 40:10:1 containing 10 ug/ml of stearic acid). After mixing, 1.2 ml of heptane and 1 ml of water were added. The mixtures were briefly vortexed and the upper phase transferred to tubes containing 2 ml of heptane and 150 mg of Bio-Sil (Bio-Rad Laboratories) activated at 130.degree. C. before use. The tubes were thoroughly vortexed and centrifuged (1000.times.g for 5 minutes). The supernatants were decanted into scintillation vials. After addition of 10 ml of a liquid scintillation cocktail (Ready Protein+, Beckman) radioactivity was counted using a Beckman liquid scintillation counter Model LS 7000. High radioactive counts correlate with enzymatic activity.

EXAMPLE 2

Prokaryotic Expression of cPLA.sub.2

E. coli K12 DH5 alpha/pECPLA21 and E. Coli K12.times.E. coli B hybrid RR1/pECPLA22 were deposited at the Northern Regional Research Laboratories (NRRL) under accession numbers NRRL B-18774 and NRRL B-18775 respectively. The deposits were made in accordance with the terms of the Budapest Treaty. Both strains carried closed circular plasmids that contain cPLA.sub.2 -encoding cDNA, a tetracycline resistance-conferring gene, the temperature sensitive cI857 repressor that regulates the lambda pL promoter and other regulatory elements necessary for transcription and translation in E. coli.

E. coli K12.times.E. coli B hybrid RR1/pECPLA22 was grown overnight in Tryptone broth supplemented with 10 ug/ml tetracycline (TY) at 28.degree. C., then diluted 1:10 with the TY broth and agitated for 60 minutes at 28.degree. C. After the initial growth phase, the cells were induced by raising the culture temperature to 42.degree. C. for six hours. The induced cells were lysed by treatment with a 1 mg/ml (final concentration in water) lysozyme solution and sonicated six times for 15 seconds, at 45 second intervals. A transformed and a non-transformed cell lysate were prepared and assayed for protein content. The samples were then assayed for cPLA.sub.2 activity according to Example 1.

FIG. 4 shows the enzymatic activity found in each sample versus its protein content. E. coli cells that did not contain cPLA.sub.2 -encoding DNA were used as the negative control. The data unmistakably illustrated that the E. coli cells which were transformed with one of the vectors of the invention expressed significantly more cPLA.sub.2 than did the control cells.

EXAMPLE 3

Eukaryotic Expression of cPLA.sub.2

Transient expression of cPLA.sub.2 was achieved in the human embryonal kidney cell line 293. The line is a permanent part of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and is available under accession number CRL 1573.

E. coli K12 DH5 alpha/pHDCPF and E. coli K12 DH5 alpha/pHDCPFS were deposited at the Northern Regional Research Laboratories (NRRL) under accession numbers NRRL B-18772 and NRRL B-18773 respectively. The deposits were made in accordance with the terms of the Budapest Treaty. Both strains carried closed circular plasmids containing cPLA.sub.2 -encoding cDNA, ampicillin and hygromycin resistance-conferring genes, the dihydrofolate reductase gene, the adenovirus major late promoter and other regulatory elements necessary for transcription and translation in eukaryotic cells.

A) Plasmid Isolation

One half liter of DS broth (12 gm tryptone, 24 gm yeast extract, 4 ml glycerol, 100 ml of 0.17M KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 +0.72M K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 per liter) containing 100 ug/ml ampicillin was inoculated with E. coli K12 DH5 alpha/pHDCPFS cells and incubated in an air shaker at 37.degree. C. overnight.

The culture was then removed and centrifuged in a Sorvalt GSA rotor (Dupont Co., Instrument Products, Newtown, Conn. 06470) at 7500 rpm for 10 minutes at 4.degree. C. The resulting supernatant was discarded, and the cell pellet was resuspended in 14 mls of a solution of 25% sucrose and 50 mM Tris/HCl (Sigma), pH 8.0; the mixture was then transferred to an oakridge tube. Two mls of a 10 mg/ml lysozyme solution and 0.75 ml of 0.5M ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) pH 8.4 were added to the solution, which was then incubated on ice for 15 minutes. 1.5 mls of Triton lytic mix (3% Triton X-100 (Sigma), 0.19M EDTA, 0.15M Tris/HCl pH 8.0) was added to the solution, which was then incubated for 15 minutes. The solution was centrifuged in a Sorvall SS34 rotor (Dupont Co., Instrument products, Newtown, Conn. 06470) at 20,000 rpm for 45 minutes at 4.degree.. The resulting supernatant containing plasmid DNA was removed and mixed with a solution of 20.55 g CsCl, 0.28 ml of 1M Tris/HCl pH 8.0, and 1.35 mls of a 10 mg/ml ethidium bromide (EtBr) solution. The final volume of the mixture was brought to 27 mls with water. The mixture was centrifuged in two Quick-seal tubes (Beckman Cat. #342413) in a Ti 75 rotor (Beckman Instruments, Inc.) at 45,000 rpm for 4 days at 20.degree. C. Plasmid bands were collected separately into two new Quick-seal tubes. 150 ul of EtBr (10 mg/ml) was added into each tube and then the tubes were topped off with a CsCl/H.sub.2 O (double distilled, deionized water) solution (density=1.56 g/ml) and centrifuged in a Ti 75 rotor at 45,000 rpm for 24 hours at 20.degree. C.

The plasmid band was collected and an equal volume of water was added to dilute the CsCl. EtBr was extracted 5 times with between 2 and 3 volumes of 1-butanol. 2.5 volumes of absolute ethanol was added to the extracted solution containing plasmid, which was incubated at room temperature for 5-10 minutes and then centrifuged in a Soyall SS34 rotor at 10,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The DNA pellet was dried and then dissolved in 200 ul of TE solution (1 mM EDTA, 10 mM Tris/HCl pH 8.0).

B) Transfection of Eukaryotic Cell Line 293

One day prior to transfection, 293 cells were seeded in two, 100 cm.sup.2 culture dishes (Falcon #1005) at a density of 1.times.10.sup.6 cells per dish. The cells were seeded and grown in DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium; GIBCO, Grand Island, N.Y.) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Hyclone; Ogden, Utah) and 50 mg/ml of gentamycin (GIBCO) in a 5% CO.sub.2, humidified 37.degree. C. incubator. Approximately 20 ugs of purified pHDCPF DNA was added to a calcium phosphate transfection buffer (see Wigler et al., P.N.A.S., 76, (1979) in the absence of any carrier DNA. The transfection was allowed to proceed for four hours at 37.degree. C., after which the transfection buffer was replaced with DMEM, supplemented as described above, and the cells were allowed to grow for three days.

C) Cell Lysis

The transfected cultures were washed once with wash buffer (140 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 2 mM EDTA, 25 mM HEPES, pH 7.4) and were removed from the culture dishes by adding 10 mls of wash buffer followed by scraping. The cells (approximately 1.times.10.sup.7) were placed in a conical tube and centrifuged. One ml of wash buffer plus 1 mM phenylmethane sulfonyl fluoride, 100 uM leupeptin and 100 uM pepstatin A was added to the pellet and the cells were lysed using a probe sonicator (Model W-385, Heat Systems Ultrasonics) with a stepped microtip at an output setting of 1. Sonication was repeated six times for 15 seconds at 45 second intervals.

The transfected 293 lysates were then assayed for cPLA.sub.2 activity according to Example 1. The results from one such lysate are shown in FIG. 5 where cPLA.sub.2 activity is plotted against the protein content of the lysate. Untransfected cells, otherwise handled in an identical manner, were used as the negative control. The graph clearly shows that the transfected cells had higher cPLA.sub.2 activity than did the negative control. The increased enzymatic activity demonstrates that plasmid pHDCPFS was able to successfully express cPLA.sub.2.

EXAMPLE 4

Stable Eukaryotic Expression of cPLA.sub.2

Stable expression of cPLA.sub.2 was achieved in the human embryohal kidney cell line 293 and in the AV12 hamster cell line. The AV12 cell line is a permanent part of the ATCC and is available under accession number CRL9595, and the 293 cell line is a permanent part of the ATCC and is available under accession number CRL1573. Plasmids containing the cPLA.sub.2 -encoding gene were prepared according to Example 3 A).

Both mammalian cell lines were transfected with pHDCPFS according to Example 3B) except that the plasmid DNA was first linearized by digestion with restriction enzyme Fsp I and precipitated with ethanol. After transfection, both cell lines were individually seeded into culture plates and grown for three days in DMEM after which the medium was replaced with selective medium (DMEM supplemented as described above plus 200 ug/ml hygromycin) to kill any cells which did not take up the linearized plasmid DNA.

After 5 days, most of the originally seeded cells had spontaneously detached from the culture plates and were removed by the weekly changes of medium (twice weekly for AV12 cells); however, colonies grew from both cell lines. These colonies were transferred to 24-well trays (Costar Inc.) using plastic pipet tips.

The transfected lines were grown and assayed as described in Examples 1 and 3, and the results are shown in FIGS. 6-8. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the results of eight transformed AV12 cell lines and FIG. 8 shows the results of one transformed 293 cell line. The negative controls were the non-transformed cell lines handled in the same fashion. The results clearly show that stable cell lines expressing cPLA.sub.2 were obtained by transformation with vectors of the invention. To date, lorry-eight transformed AV12 and six transformed 293 cell lines have been assayed, and all expressed cPLA.sub.2 above control levels.

EXAMPLE 5

Western Blot Analysis

Immunological and electrophoretic equivalence between naturally-occurring cPLA.sub.2, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/573,513, and recombinant cPLA.sub.2 produced using one of the DNA sequences of the present invention, was established by western blot analysis. The samples and the procedure used are described below.

Sample 1

E. coli K12.times.E. coli B hybrid RR1/pECPLA22 cells, described in Example 2, were grown to an O.D..sub.600 of 1.0. One ml of cells was centrifuged, and the medium was removed. The pellet was dissolved in 250 uls of loading buffer (0.125M Tris/HCl, pH 6.8 containing 2% SDS, 30% glycerol, 0.1% Bromophenol Blue (Sigma), 6M urea, and 10% 2-mercaptoethanol).

Sample 2

E. coli K12.times.E. coli B hybrid RR1 cells which did not contain the cPLA.sub.2 -encoding plasmid pECPLA22 were grown and handled as stated in Sample 1.

Sample 3

500 ngs of naturally-occurring cPLA.sub.2 isolated from the human monoblastoid cell line U937 as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/573,513 were mixed with 30 uls of loading buffer.

All samples were heated at 100.degree. C. for five minutes, and 30 uls of each were loaded onto separate lanes of a 10% SDS polyacrylamide gel (160.times.140.times.1.5 mm). The gel was run at 50 mA until the dye reached the bottom of the gel. The proteins were transferred to a ProBlott.TM. membrane (Applied Biosystems) using a BioRad Transblot apparatus run in 20 mM CAPS buffer, pH 11 (Sigma, C-2632) at 250 mA for 2 hours. After the proteins were transferred, the filter was removed and washed 3 times for 5 minutes at room temperature in TBST (0.15M NaCl, 0.1% Tween 20, 50 mM Tris/HCl, pH 8.0) on a rocking platform. The blot was then blocked for 3 hours in TBS (0.15M NaCl, 50 mM Tris/HCl, pH 8.0) containing 5% non-fat dried milk (Carnation), then blocked again for 3 hours in TBS+3% bovine serum albumin. The blot was then washed 3 times for 5 minutes in 100 mls of TBST.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for cPLA.sub.2 were described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/663,335. One of those antibodies (3.1) was used as the primary antibody to probe the blot for cPLA.sub.2 in the present example. The primary antibody, at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml, was diluted 1:570 in TBST plus 0.02% sodium azide. The protein-containing blot was incubated overnight at 4.degree. C. in the primary antibody solution and then washed as before.

The blot was then reacted with a secondary antibody by incubating it for 6 hours at room temperature in a solution of immunoaffinity purified rabbit anti-mouse IgG antibody (Jackson ImmunoResearch, Cat. #315-005-045) diluted 1:5000 in TBST. The blot was then washed as before, followed by incubation at 4.degree. C. overnight in a 1:500 dilution (TBST) of goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (Pel-freeze, Cat. #721307-1). The blot was washed as before and developed for 60 minutes at room temperature in a solution of 42 mls of 0.1M phosphate buffer, pH 6; 8 mls of 4-chloronapthol (3 mg/ml in methanol) containing 300 uls of 3% hydrogen peroxide.

The results of the western blot analysis are shown in FIG. 9. The stained bands in Samples 1 and 3 demonstrate that the naturally-occuring cPLA.sub.2 found in the U937 cell line has the same mobility when run on an SDS gel as the recombinantly produced cPLA.sub.2 encoded by one of the claimed DNA sequences of the invention. Sample 2, the negative control, shows that without a vector of the invention, cPLA.sub.2 is not expressed.

__________________________________________________________________________SEQUENCE LISTING(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 2247 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: CDS(B) LOCATION: 1..2247(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:ATGTCATTTATAGATCCTTACCAGCACATTATAGTGGAGCACCAGTAT48MetSerPheIleAspProTyrGlnHisIleIleValGluHisGlnTyr15 1015TCCCACAAGTTTACGGTAGTGGTGTTACGTGCCACCAAAGTGACAAAG96SerHisLysPheThrValValValLeuArgAlaThrLysValThrLys20 2530GGGGCCTTTGGTGACATGCTTGATACTCCAGATCCCTATGTGGAACTT144GlyAlaPheGlyAspMetLeuAspThrProAspProTyrValGluLeu35 4045TTTATCTCTACAACCCCTGACAGCAGGAAGAGAACAAGACATTTCAAT192PheIleSerThrThrProAspSerArgLysArgThrArgHisPheAsn5055 60AATGACATAAACCCTGTGTGGAATGAGACCTTTGAATTTATTTTGGAT240AsnAspIleAsnProValTrpAsnGluThrPheGluPheIleLeuAsp657075 80CCTAATCAGGAAAATGTTTTGGAGATTACGTTAATGGATGCCAATTAT288ProAsnGlnGluAsnValLeuGluIleThrLeuMetAspAlaAsnTyr859 095GTCATGGATGAAACTCTAGGGACAGCAACATTTACTGTATCTTCTATG336ValMetAspGluThrLeuGlyThrAlaThrPheThrValSerSerMet100105 110AAGGTGGGAGAAAAGAAAGAAGTTCCTTTTATTTTCAACCAAGTCACT384LysValGlyGluLysLysGluValProPheIlePheAsnGlnValThr115120 125GAAATGGTTCTAGAAATGTCTCTTGAAGTTTGCTCATGCCCAGACCTA432GluMetValLeuGluMetSerLeuGluValCysSerCysProAspLeu130135140CGATTTAGTATGGCTCTGTGTGATCAGGAGAAGACTTTCAGACAACAG480ArgPheSerMetAlaLeuCysAspGlnGluLysThrPheArgGlnGln145150155 160AGAAAAGAACACATAAGGGAGAGCATGAAGAAACTCTTGGGTCCAAAG528ArgLysGluHisIleArgGluSerMetLysLysLeuLeuGlyProLys165170 175AATAGTGAAGGATTGCATTCTGCACGTGATGTGCCTGTGGTAGCCATA576AsnSerGluGlyLeuHisSerAlaArgAspValProValValAlaIle180185 190TTGGGTTCAGGTGGGGGTTTCCGAGCCATGGTGGGATTCTCTGGTGTG624LeuGlySerGlyGlyGlyPheArgAlaMetValGlyPheSerGlyVal195200205A TGAAGGCATTATACGAATCAGGAATTCTGGATTGTGCTACCTACGTT672MetLysAlaLeuTyrGluSerGlyIleLeuAspCysAlaThrTyrVal210215220GCTGGTCTT TCTGGCTCCACCTGGTATATGTCAACCTTGTATTCTCAC720AlaGlyLeuSerGlySerThrTrpTyrMetSerThrLeuTyrSerHis225230235240CCTGAT TTTCCAGAGAAAGGGCCAGAGGAGATTAATGAAGAACTAATG768ProAspPheProGluLysGlyProGluGluIleAsnGluGluLeuMet245250255AAAAA TGTTAGCCACAATCCCCTTTTACTTCTCACACCACAGAAAGTT816LysAsnValSerHisAsnProLeuLeuLeuLeuThrProGlnLysVal260265270AAAAGAT ATGTTGAGTCTTTATGGAAGAAGAAAAGCTCTGGACAACCT864LysArgTyrValGluSerLeuTrpLysLysLysSerSerGlyGlnPro275280285GTCACCTTTACT GACATCTTTGGGATGTTAATAGGAGAAACACTAATT912ValThrPheThrAspIlePheGlyMetLeuIleGlyGluThrLeuIle290295300CATAATAGAATGAATACTACT CTGAGCAGTTTGAAGGAAAAAGTTAAT960HisAsnArgMetAsnThrThrLeuSerSerLeuLysGluLysValAsn305310315320ACTGCACAATGCCCTTT ACCTCTTTTCACCTGTCTTCATGTCAAACCT1008ThrAlaGlnCysProLeuProLeuPheThrCysLeuHisValLysPro325330335GACGTTTCAGAGCTGA TGTTTGCAGATTGGGTTGAATTTAGTCCATAC1056AspValSerGluLeuMetPheAlaAspTrpValGluPheSerProTyr340345350GAAATTGGCATGGCTAAA TATGGTACTTTTATGGCTCCCGACTTATTT1104GluIleGlyMetAlaLysTyrGlyThrPheMetAlaProAspLeuPhe355360365GGAAGCAAATTTTTTATGGGAACA GTCGTTAAGAAGTATGAAGAAAAC1152GlySerLysPhePheMetGlyThrValValLysLysTyrGluGluAsn370375380CCCTTGCATTTCTTAATGGGTGTCTGGGGCAG TGCCTTTTCCATATTG1200ProLeuHisPheLeuMetGlyValTrpGlySerAlaPheSerIleLeu385390395400TTCAACAGAGTTTTGGGCGTTTCTGGTT CACAAAGCAGAGGCTCCACA1248PheAsnArgValLeuGlyValSerGlySerGlnSerArgGlySerThr405410415ATGGAGGAAGAATTAGAAAATATTACC ACAAAGCATATTGTGAGTAAT1296MetGluGluGluLeuGluAsnIleThrThrLysHisIleValSerAsn420425430GATAGCTCGGACAGTGATGATGAATCACAC GAACCCAAAGGCACTGAA1344AspSerSerAspSerAspAspGluSerHisGluProLysGlyThrGlu435440445AATGAAGATGCTGGAAGTGACTATCAAAGTGATAA TCAAGCAAGTTGG1392AsnGluAspAlaGlySerAspTyrGlnSerAspAsnGlnAlaSerTrp450455460ATTCATCGTATGATAATGGCCTTGGTGAGTGATTCAGCTTTAT TCAAT1440IleHisArgMetIleMetAlaLeuValSerAspSerAlaLeuPheAsn465470475480ACCAGAGAAGGACGTGCTGGGAAGGTACACAACTTCATG CTGGGCTTG1488ThrArgGluGlyArgAlaGlyLysValHisAsnPheMetLeuGlyLeu485490495AATCTCAATACATCTTATCCACTGTCTCCTTTGAGTGAC TTTGCCACA1536AsnLeuAsnThrSerTyrProLeuSerProLeuSerAspPheAlaThr500505510CAGGACTCCTTTGATGATGATGAACTGGATGCAGCTGTAGC AGATCCT1584GlnAspSerPheAspAspAspGluLeuAspAlaAlaValAlaAspPro515520525GATGAATTTGAGCGAATATATGAGCCTCTGGATGTCAAAAGTAAAA AG1632AspGluPheGluArgIleTyrGluProLeuAspValLysSerLysLys530535540ATTCATGTAGTGGACAGTGGGCTCACATTTAACCTGCCGTATCCCTTG1680IleHisValValAspSerGlyLeuThrPheAsnLeuProTyrProLeu545550555560ATACTGAGACCTCAGAGAGGGGTTGATCTCATAATCTCCTTTGACTTT 1728IleLeuArgProGlnArgGlyValAspLeuIleIleSerPheAspPhe565570575TCTGCAAGGCCAAGTGACTCTAGTCCTCCGTTCAAGGAACTTCTACTT 1776SerAlaArgProSerAspSerSerProProPheLysGluLeuLeuLeu580585590GCAGAAAAGTGGGCTAAAATGAACAAGCTCCCCTTTCCAAAGATTGAT1 824AlaGluLysTrpAlaLysMetAsnLysLeuProPheProLysIleAsp595600605CCTTATGTGTTTGATCGGGAAGGGCTGAAGGAGTGCTATGTCTTTAAA1872Pr oTyrValPheAspArgGluGlyLeuLysGluCysTyrValPheLys610615620CCCAAGAATCCTGATATGGAGAAAGATTGCCCAACCATCATCCACTTT1920ProLysAsnP roAspMetGluLysAspCysProThrIleIleHisPhe625630635640GTTCTGGCCAACATCAACTTCAGAAAGTACAAGGCTCCAGGTGTTCCA1968ValLeu AlaAsnIleAsnPheArgLysTyrLysAlaProGlyValPro645650655AGGGAAACTGAGGAAGAGAAAGAAATCGCTGACTTTGATATTTTTGAT2016ArgGlu ThrGluGluGluLysGluIleAlaAspPheAspIlePheAsp660665670GACCCAGAATCACCATTTTCAACCTTCAATTTTCAATATCCAAATCAA2064AspProGl uSerProPheSerThrPheAsnPheGlnTyrProAsnGln675680685GCATTCAAAAGACTACATGATCTTATGCACTTCAATACTCTGAACAAC2112AlaPheLysArgL euHisAspLeuMetHisPheAsnThrLeuAsnAsn690695700ATTGATGTGATAAAAGAAGCCATGGTTGAAAGCATTGAATATAGAAGA2160IleAspValIleLysGluAla MetValGluSerIleGluTyrArgArg705710715720CAGAATCCATCTCGTTGCTCTGTTTCCCTTAGTAATGTTGAGGCAAGA2208GlnAsnProSerArgCys SerValSerLeuSerAsnValGluAlaArg725730735AGATTTTTCAACAAGGAGTTTCTAAGTAAACCCAAAGCA2247ArgPhePheAsnLysGl uPheLeuSerLysProLysAla740745(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 749 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:MetSerPheIleAspPr oTyrGlnHisIleIleValGluHisGlnTyr151015SerHisLysPheThrValValValLeuArgAlaThrLysValThrLys20 2530GlyAlaPheGlyAspMetLeuAspThrProAspProTyrValGluLeu354045PheIleSerThrThrProAspSerArgLysArgThrArgH isPheAsn505560AsnAspIleAsnProValTrpAsnGluThrPheGluPheIleLeuAsp65707580ProAsn GlnGluAsnValLeuGluIleThrLeuMetAspAlaAsnTyr859095ValMetAspGluThrLeuGlyThrAlaThrPheThrValSerSerMet100 105110LysValGlyGluLysLysGluValProPheIlePheAsnGlnValThr115120125GluMetValLeuGluMetSerLeuGluVa lCysSerCysProAspLeu130135140ArgPheSerMetAlaLeuCysAspGlnGluLysThrPheArgGlnGln145150155 160ArgLysGluHisIleArgGluSerMetLysLysLeuLeuGlyProLys165170175AsnSerGluGlyLeuHisSerAlaArgAspValProValValAlaIle 180185190LeuGlySerGlyGlyGlyPheArgAlaMetValGlyPheSerGlyVal195200205MetLysAlaLeuTyrGlu SerGlyIleLeuAspCysAlaThrTyrVal210215220AlaGlyLeuSerGlySerThrTrpTyrMetSerThrLeuTyrSerHis225230235 240ProAspPheProGluLysGlyProGluGluIleAsnGluGluLeuMet245250255LysAsnValSerHisAsnProLeuLeuLeuLeuThrPr oGlnLysVal260265270LysArgTyrValGluSerLeuTrpLysLysLysSerSerGlyGlnPro275280285ValThr PheThrAspIlePheGlyMetLeuIleGlyGluThrLeuIle290295300HisAsnArgMetAsnThrThrLeuSerSerLeuLysGluLysValAsn305310 315320ThrAlaGlnCysProLeuProLeuPheThrCysLeuHisValLysPro325330335AspValSerGluLeuMetPheAlaAsp TrpValGluPheSerProTyr340345350GluIleGlyMetAlaLysTyrGlyThrPheMetAlaProAspLeuPhe355360 365GlySerLysPhePheMetGlyThrValValLysLysTyrGluGluAsn370375380ProLeuHisPheLeuMetGlyValTrpGlySerAlaPheSerIleLeu385 390395400PheAsnArgValLeuGlyValSerGlySerGlnSerArgGlySerThr405410415MetGluGluGluLeu GluAsnIleThrThrLysHisIleValSerAsn420425430AspSerSerAspSerAspAspGluSerHisGluProLysGlyThrGlu435440 445AsnGluAspAlaGlySerAspTyrGlnSerAspAsnGlnAlaSerTrp450455460IleHisArgMetIleMetAlaLeuValSerAspSerAlaLeuPheAsn465470475480ThrArgGluGlyArgAlaGlyLysValHisAsnPheMetLeuGlyLeu485490495AsnL euAsnThrSerTyrProLeuSerProLeuSerAspPheAlaThr500505510GlnAspSerPheAspAspAspGluLeuAspAlaAlaValAlaAspPro515 520525AspGluPheGluArgIleTyrGluProLeuAspValLysSerLysLys530535540IleHisValValAspSerGlyLeuThrPheAsnLeu ProTyrProLeu545550555560IleLeuArgProGlnArgGlyValAspLeuIleIleSerPheAspPhe565570 575SerAlaArgProSerAspSerSerProProPheLysGluLeuLeuLeu580585590AlaGluLysTrpAlaLysMetAsnLysLeuProPheProLysIleAsp 595600605ProTyrValPheAspArgGluGlyLeuLysGluCysTyrValPheLys610615620ProLysAsnProAspMetGluLysA spCysProThrIleIleHisPhe625630635640ValLeuAlaAsnIleAsnPheArgLysTyrLysAlaProGlyValPro6456 50655ArgGluThrGluGluGluLysGluIleAlaAspPheAspIlePheAsp660665670AspProGluSerProPheSerThrPheAsnPheGlnTyr ProAsnGln675680685AlaPheLysArgLeuHisAspLeuMetHisPheAsnThrLeuAsnAsn690695700IleAspValIleLy sGluAlaMetValGluSerIleGluTyrArgArg705710715720GlnAsnProSerArgCysSerValSerLeuSerAsnValGluAlaArg725 730735ArgPhePheAsnLysGluPheLeuSerLysProLysAla740745

Claims

1. A gene consisting essentially of a recombinant DNA sequence that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

2. The gene of claim 1 wherein said encoded protein has cytosolic phospholipase A.sub.2 (cPLA.sub.2) activity of greater than 6 micromoles per minute per milligram, an apparent molecular weight of approximately 100,000 daltons as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and is activated over the range of from 150 to 600 nM Ca.sup.++.

3. The gene of claim 2 wherein said DNA sequence is the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

4. A recombinant DNA vector comprising a gene of claim 1.

5. A recombinant DNA vector comprising the gene of claim 3.

6. The vector of claim 5 selected from the group consisting of pECPLA22, pHDCPF, and pHDCPFS.

7. A recombinant host cell comprising the vector of claim 4.

8. The vector of claim 6 that is plasmid pECPLA22.

9. A recombinant host cell comprising the vector of claim 8.

10. The host cell of claim 9 that is E. coli K12.times.E. coli B hybrid RR1/pECPLA22 which is on deposit with the NRRL under accession number 18775.

11. The vector of claim 6 wherein the vector is a eukaryotic expression vector selected from the group consisting of pHDCPF and pHDCPFS.

12. The vector of claim 11 that is plasmid pHDCPF.

13. A recombinant host cell comprising the vector of claim 11.

14. The host cell of claim 13 that is E. coli K12 DH5 alpha/pHDCPF and is on deposit with the NRRL under accession number 18772.

15. The vector of claim 11 that is plasmid pHDCPFS.

16. A recombinant host cell comprising the vector of claim 15.

17. The host cell of claim 16 that is E. coli K12 DH5 alpha/pHDCPFS and is on deposit with the NRRL under accession number 18773.

18. A host cell comprising a eukaryotic cell transformed with the vector of claim 4.

19. A host cell comprising a eukaryotic cell transformed with the vector of claim 5.

20. The host cell of claim 19 wherein the cell is the human embryonal kidney cell line 293 and the vector is pHDCPF or pHDCPFS.

21. The host cell of claim 19 wherein the cell is the hamster cell line AV12 and the vector is pHDCPF or pHDCPFS.