Baculoviruses for foreign gene expression in insect cells

Abstract

Insect baculovirus vector systems are rapid and convenient means of obtaining substantial quantities of many different foreign gene products. The vector systems are proving useful in academic research and in industry. Numerous examples of the successful high-level expression of biologically active vertebrate proteins have been reported. Cleavage of mammalian signal sequences occurred correctly in the cases studied. Vertebrate and invertebrate core glycosylation appears to be similar, but terminal glycosylation differs substantially. Nevertheless, many biologically active glycosylated vertebrate proteins can be expressed in biologically active form using this system. The ease and rapidity of the vector systems are two of their most valuable features. The vectors will be particularly convenient for the rapid analysis of the products of genes subjected to site-specific modifications.