pSecTag2 and pSecTag2/Hygro are mammalian expression vectors designed for the secretion, purification, and detection of fusion proteins. Each vector has a large multiple cloning site in three reading frames to simplify cloning in frame with the N-terminal secretion signal. The vectors (Figure 1) offer the following features:

• Secretion signal from the V-J2-C region of the mouse Ig kappa-chain for efficient secretion of recombinant proteins (Figure 2)

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter for high-level constitutive expression

• C-terminal polyhistidine (6xHis) tag for rapid purification with nickel-chelating resin and detection with an Anti-His(C-term) Antibody

• C-terminal c-myc epitope for detection with an Anti-myc Antibody

• Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) polyadenylation signal and transcription termination sequence to enhance mRNA stability

• SV40 origin for episomal replication and simple vector rescue in cell lines expressing the large T antigen (e.g., COS-1, COS-7)

The pSecTag2 vectors carry the Zeocin? resistance gene for cost-effective selection in mammalian cells. Zeocin? selection can also be used in E. coli.The pSecTag2/Hygro vectors have the Hygromycin B resistance gene for selection of stable mammalian cell lines.