High-efficiency expression of rat protein kinase C-gamma in baculovirus-infected insect cells.

We have expressed rat protein kinase C-gamma in insect cells using a baculovirus vector. The yield of expressed protein kinase C-gamma is about 4% of total protein. The recombinant protein shows a prominent band at about 80 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, which can be identified as protein kinase C-gamma by Western blotting using monoclonal antibodies against protein kinase C-gamma. Upon incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP and in the presence of Ca2+, phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol this protein autophosphorylates. Its enzyme activity shows the characteristic properties of mammalian protein kinase C.