Cloning and Biological Activity of an Anti-Tumor Peptide of Tumstatin

To obtain an anti-tumor peptide of Tumstatin and detect its biological activity, the nucleotide sequence encoding 185–203 amino acids (19peptide) of Tumstatin was synthesized and inserted into the fusion protein vector pTYB2. After identification by sequencing and restriction endonucleases, the recombined vector was transformed into BL-21 (DE3) E. coli competent cells. Transformed E. coli BL-21 (DE3) were induced by isopropyl-β-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), and then expressed. By 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) reduction, the soluble 19peptide was obtained from a chitin affinity chromatograph. The biological activity of 19peptide was determined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1]-2,5-diphenytetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, cell growth curve, the effect of the ascitic fluid transfevent H22 hepatoma on mice and via histopathological slices. The purified 19peptide directly inhibited proliferation and migration of murine B16 melanoma cells, SMMC-7721hepatoma carcinoma cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The tumor inhibition rate of mice ascitic fluid transfevent H22 hepatoma was 48.46%. Histopathological slices showed that it could promote tumor tissue necrosis and decrease the density of blood vessels. With higher anti-tumor activity, 19peptide has the potential to become a novel, potent anti-tumor agent.