Enzymatic and chemical cleavage of fusion proteins.

This unit provides protocols for some commonly used methods of site-specific cleavage of fusion proteins. The first three protocols describe enzymatic cleavage of proteins using proteases (factor Xa, thrombin, and enterokinase) that display highly restricted specificities, which greatly decrease the likelihood that unwanted secondary cuts will occur. Three additional protocols describe specific cleavage of fusion proteins with chemical reagents (cyanogen bromide, hydroxylamine, and low pH) as an alternative to enzymatic cleavage.