The Immunogenicity of the Tumor-Associated Antigen α-Fetoprotein Is Enhanced by a Fusion with a Transmembrane Domain
Figure 1
Generation of recombinants MVA expressing the different murine AFP sequences and evaluation of the mAFP proteins expression. (a) Schematic representation of transgenes inserted into the MVA genome. The different AFP sequences are under the control of the early-late promoter pH5R. Δ: no insert; s: exporting sequence; tm: transmembrane domain; (b) specific detection of modified AFP proteins on western blot by polyclonal antibody directed against the C-terminal AFP protein. Lane 1 (left to right): mock-infected CEP cells; Lane 2: CEP cells infected with MVA-null; Lane 3: CEP cells infected with MVA-s mAFP; Lane 4: CEP cells infected with MVA-I mAFP. Molecular weight standards are shown in kDa on the left. The presence of the intracellular AFP protein (I mAFP) and of the secreted AFP protein (S mAFP) is indicated (arrows). (c) Specific detection of transmembrane AFP protein on western blot by antibody directed against the transmembrane domain. The presence of the transmembrane AFP protein (T mAFP) is indicated (arrow).
