Efficient expression, purification and characterization of native human cystatin C in Escherichia coli periplasm.

•A PelB signal peptide was introduced into recombinant construct to achieve soluble expression of HCC in periplasm of E. coli.•The low temperature condition was applied for efficient expression of HCC.•High purity of un-tagged HCC was obtained by cation exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography.•The purified recombinant HCC was well characterized and possessed good biological activity.