Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To construct a series of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) mammalian cell expression vectors and to assess CDK2 expression in NIH3T3 cells. METHODS：RNA was isolated from esophageal cancer cells and the full coding sequence of CDK2 gene was obtained by RT-PCR. The PCR product was then cloned into T vector and subsequently subcloned into four eukaryotic expression vectors (pcDNA3，pcDNA4，pNTAP and pEGFP). The expressing plasmids were transfected into NIH3T3 cells and the expression of CDK2 was detected by western blot. RESULTS：The PCR product was about 900 bp and the sequence analysis showed that it was the full coding sequence of CDK2 gene. The product was subcloned into the eukaryotic expression vectors and four CDK2 expression vectors were constructed. Western blot showed that CDK2 could be expressed in the expression vector-transfected cells. CONCLUSION：Four CDK2 eukaryotic expression vectors were successfully constructed and CDK2 was effectively expressed in NIH3T3 cells.

Key words: cyclin-dependent kinase 2, gene cloning, eukaryotic expression vector