Abstract
The coding regions for the seabream (sb) alpha GtH and beta FSH or beta LH were engineered into the baculovirus (bv) expression vector pAcUW51, under the control of independent promoters. Expression resulted in subunit association and secretion of LH and FSH by the insect cells. A construct containing the full length beta LH cDNA, joined to the cDNA coding for the mature alpha subunit, was introduced into the pVL1393 vector to determine whether the active conformation of the heterodimer could be achieved when the two subunits were synthesized as a single polypeptide chain. Media containing the recombinant FSH and LH were applied in vitro to sb gonads, and secretion of estradiol 17 beta (E2), followed. Our results show that both conformations are capable of eliciting an in vitro biological response.