Controlled secretion of β-endorphin from human embryonic kidney cells carrying a Tet-on-β-endorphin fusion gene
To create a cell line with controlled and specific secretion of β-endorphin, a new fusion gene was constructed by joining human β-endorphin coding sequence to part of NL1 gene. HEK293 cells carrying Tet-on system transfected with this fusion gene secreted β-endorphin in a dose-dependent manner upon doxycycline administration. These findings suggest that this system can direct the controlled secretion of any peptide hormones such as β-endorphin.