Dimethylsulfoxide and sodium butyrate enhance the production of recombinant cyclooxygenase 2 in stably transformed drosophila melanogaster S2 cells

Recombinant human cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox 2) was expressed in stably transformed Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells, and was present primarily in the cellular fraction at a molecular weight of 70 to 74 kDa. Recombinant Cox 2 was purified using Ni^sup 2+^-affinity fractionation to a specific activity of 24 800 U mg^sup -1^ protein. The peak level of recombinant Cox 2 production was 1.6 μg (10^sup 7^ cells)^sup -1^, seven days after induction with 0.5 mM CuSO^sub 4^. Supplementing the cultures with dimethylsulfoxide or sodium butyrate increased recombinant Cox 2 production by 170% and 86%, respectively.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]