EXPRESSION IN MAMMALIAN CELLS OF FUSION PROTEINS BETWEEN HUMAN FACTORS IX AND VII

The vitamin K-dependent plasma proteins demonstrate remarkable similarities in their structures: all have multiple domains in common and extensive homology is observed within many of these domains. In order to investigate the structure-function relationship of these proteins, we have interchanged domains of one protein (factor IX) with that of another (factor VII) and have compared the expression of these fusion proteins with recombinant and native factors IX and VII. Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to generate four fusion proteins: factor IX/VII-1, which contains the factor IX leader and gla domain fused to the growth factor and serine protease of factor VII; factor VII/IX-1, a reciprocal fusion protein of factor IX/VII-1; factor IX/VII-2, which contains the factor IX leader adjoined to the mature factor VII protein sequence; and factor VII/IX-2, the reciprocal fusion protein of factor IX/VII-2. The cDNAs encoding all four proteins were cloned into mammalian expression vectors, and to date three of these (factors IX/VII-1, 2 and VII/IX-1) have been transfected into baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells or 293 cells and characterized. Factors IX/VII-1 and VII/IX-1 were both secreted at levels comparable to recombinant factors IX and VII. The factor IX/VII-1 was identical in molecular weight to native or recombinant factor VII (i.e., 53 K). Factor VII/IX-1 was expressed as two proteins with molecular weights around 68 kd, as observed with recombinant factor IX. The factor IX/VII-1 protein has been purified to homogeneity and has been found to possess factor VII biological activity, but at a specific activity approximately 20% that of plasma factor VII. Thus, the gla domain of one clotting factor is capable of directing the activation of another and of generating biologically active protein. In contrast, no activity was observed with the factor IX/VII-2 fusion protein, indicating that there are limits to the interchanges which can generate functional blood clotting factors.