Use of bacterial lipoprotein amino terminus in fusion plasmids for in vivo expression of lipid modified polypeptides

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The present invention relates to a fusion plasmid for in vivo synthesis of a lipid modified polypeptide. The plasmid comprises a first DNA sequence encoding a lipoprotein signal peptide, preferably a bacterial lipoprotein signal peptide, and at least the first amino acid of a mature lipoprotein preferably, cysteine. In the DNA sequence the preferred cysteine, codon may be followed by codons for a few amino acids forming a .beta.-turn structure. These amino acids may also include a specific exogenous protease recognition cleavage site. A second DNA sequence encoding the desired polypeptide can be inserted into the fusion plasmid to produce the desired lipid modified polypeptide.