Cloning and expressing the E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

OBJECTIVES: To construct the expression vector of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E2 subunit gene (PDC-E2). METHODS: The PDC-E2 gene was amplified from human lymphocytes with RT-PCR, and was cloned into pExSecI vector to induce the PDC-E2 expression. The products were identified with western blot and ELISA. RESULTS: The expression vector pExSecI/PDC-E2 was successfully constructed. The products could be identified by the specific self-antibodies in the sera from the primary biliary cirrhosis patients. CONCLUSION: High efficient expression vector of PDC-E2 lays the foundation for serum assay of primary biliary cirrhosis patients with prokaryotic expressing PDC-E2.