Samaneh Esfandiar - Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Sameereh Hashemi-Najafabadi - Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Abbas Shojaosadati - Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Pourpak - Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Children Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Recombinant human interleukin-2 was expressed as inclusion body in E.coli. An ultrasonic homogenization was done for cell disruption and then inclusion bodies isolated by centrifugation. The inactive inclusion bodies were solubilized in 8 M urea / 20 mM β-mercaptoethanol. Purification and refolding was done on immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) in one step. A gradual refolding of the protein was performed on-column from 8 M to 0 M urea. The refolded protein was then eluted by refolding buffer containing 0.5 M urea and 300 mM imidazole. Then activity of the purified protein was investigated. It indicated that purified IL-2 can proliferate the T cells.

Recombinant Human Interleukin-2, Inclusion Body, IMAC, Refolding