Example 3
Human IL-2 variants (amino acids 1-133), the IL-2Rβ ectodomain (amino acids 1-214), and γc (amino acids 34-232) were cloned into the pAcGP67-A vector (BD Biosciences) in frame with an N-terminal gp67 signal sequence and C-terminal hexahistidine tag and produced using the baculovirus expression system. Baculovirus stocks were prepared by transfection and amplification in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells grown in SF9000II media (Invitrogen), and protein expression was carried out in suspension Trichoplasia ni (High Five™) cells grown in Bio Whittaker® Insect XPRESS™ media (Lonza). Proteins were expressed and captured from High Five™ supernatants after 48-60 hr by nickel agarose (QIAGEN), concentrated and purified by size exclusion chromatography on a Superdex™ 200 column (GE Healthcare), equilibrated in 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.2) and 150 mM NaCl. IL-2 variants used in SPR and cell based assays were expressed fully glycosylated. For biotinylated receptor expression, IL-2Rβ and γc were cloned into the pAcGP67-A vector with a C-terminal biotin acceptor peptide (BAP)-LNDIFEAQKIEWHE and hexahistidine tag. Receptor proteins were coexpressed with BirA ligase with excess biotin (100 uM).