Recombinant Naja kaouthia Cobra venom factor, partial

The synthesis of Recombinant N.kaouthia CVF protein began with the isolation of CVF gene from the native genome. The next step was to amplify the CVF gene by inserting the CVF gene into an expression vector and then introducing the vector into the selected host cell, E.coli. Significant amounts of recombinant N.kaouthia CVF protein were produced by the host only when expression genes were added. For the purpose of protein purification, the vector contains N-terminal 6xHis-SUMO tag to the CVF DNA sequence. The purity of this protein is 90%+ determined by SDS-PAGE.

Cobra venom factor (CVF or CVFk), also known as Complement C3 homolog is a complement-activating protein in cobra venom. It can be cleaved into the three chains: cobra venom factor alpha chain, cobra venom factor gamma chain and cobra venom factor beta chain. A functional analog of CVF in human is complement component C3b (a active fragment of C3). Similar to C3b, CVF binds factor B, which is then cleaved by factor D, giving rise to the CVFBb complex that targets the same scissile bond in C3 as the authentic complement convertases C4bC2a and C3bBb.