Recombinant human cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox 2) was expressed in stably transformed Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells, and was present primarily in the cellular fraction at a molecular weight of 70 to 74 kDa. Recombinant Cox 2 was purified using Ni-affinity fractionation to a specific activity of 24800 U mg protein. The peak level of recombinant Cox 2 production was 1.6 μg (10 cells), seven days after induction with 0.5 mM CuSO4. Supplementing the cultures with dimethylsulfoxide or sodium butyrate increased recombinant Cox 2 production by 170% and 86%, respectively.