Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The solubility of recombinant proteins expressed in bacteria is often disappointingly low. Several strategies have been developed to improve the yield and one of the most common strategies is the fusion of the target protein with a s...

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Main Authors: Lawrence Ann-Marie, Dümmler Annett, de Marco Ario
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2005-12-01
Series:Microbial Cell Factories
Online Access:http://www.microbialcellfactories.com/content/4/1/34
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author Lawrence Ann-Marie
Dümmler Annett
de Marco Ario
author_facet Lawrence Ann-Marie
Dümmler Annett
de Marco Ario
author_sort Lawrence Ann-Marie
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The solubility of recombinant proteins expressed in bacteria is often disappointingly low. Several strategies have been developed to improve the yield and one of the most common strategies is the fusion of the target protein with a suitable partner. Despite several reports on the successful use of each of these carriers to increase the solubility of some recombinant proteins, none of them was always successful and a combinatorial approach seems more efficient to identify the optimal combination for a specific protein. Therefore, the efficiency of an expression system critically depends on the speed in the identification of the optimal combination for the suitable fusion candidate in a screening process. This paper describes a set of expression vectors (pETM) designed for rapid subcloning, expression and subsequent purification using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A single PCR product of two Yellow Fluorescent Proteins (EYFPs) was cloned into 18 vectors comprising identical restriction sites and varying fusion partners as well as differing protease recognition sites. After a small-scale expression, the yields of the different constructs were compared using a Coomassie stained SDS-polyacrylamide gel and the results of this preliminary screening were then confirmed by large-scale purification. The yields were calculated and the stability of the different constructs determined using three independent conditions. The results indicated a significant correlation between the length and composition of non-native amino acid tails and stability. Furthermore, the buffer specificity of TEV and 3C proteases was tested using fusion proteins differing only in their protease recognition sequence, and a His-GST-EYFP construct was employed to compare the efficiency of the two alternative affinity purification methods.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The experiments showed that the set of pETM vectors could be used for the rapid production of a large array of different constructs with specific yield, stability, and cleavage features. Their comparison allowed the identification of the optimal constructs to use for the large-scale expression. We expect that the approach outlined in this paper, i.e. the possibility to obtain in parallel fusion products of the target protein with different partners for a preliminary evaluation, would be highly beneficial for all them who are interested in the rapid identification of the optimal conditions for protein expression.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-ee9dabda15924bc1973593b2d68f3c142022-12-22T01:06:39ZengBMCMicrobial Cell Factories1475-28592005-12-01413410.1186/1475-2859-4-34Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectorsLawrence Ann-MarieDümmler Annettde Marco Ario<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The solubility of recombinant proteins expressed in bacteria is often disappointingly low. Several strategies have been developed to improve the yield and one of the most common strategies is the fusion of the target protein with a suitable partner. Despite several reports on the successful use of each of these carriers to increase the solubility of some recombinant proteins, none of them was always successful and a combinatorial approach seems more efficient to identify the optimal combination for a specific protein. Therefore, the efficiency of an expression system critically depends on the speed in the identification of the optimal combination for the suitable fusion candidate in a screening process. This paper describes a set of expression vectors (pETM) designed for rapid subcloning, expression and subsequent purification using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A single PCR product of two Yellow Fluorescent Proteins (EYFPs) was cloned into 18 vectors comprising identical restriction sites and varying fusion partners as well as differing protease recognition sites. After a small-scale expression, the yields of the different constructs were compared using a Coomassie stained SDS-polyacrylamide gel and the results of this preliminary screening were then confirmed by large-scale purification. The yields were calculated and the stability of the different constructs determined using three independent conditions. The results indicated a significant correlation between the length and composition of non-native amino acid tails and stability. Furthermore, the buffer specificity of TEV and 3C proteases was tested using fusion proteins differing only in their protease recognition sequence, and a His-GST-EYFP construct was employed to compare the efficiency of the two alternative affinity purification methods.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The experiments showed that the set of pETM vectors could be used for the rapid production of a large array of different constructs with specific yield, stability, and cleavage features. Their comparison allowed the identification of the optimal constructs to use for the large-scale expression. We expect that the approach outlined in this paper, i.e. the possibility to obtain in parallel fusion products of the target protein with different partners for a preliminary evaluation, would be highly beneficial for all them who are interested in the rapid identification of the optimal conditions for protein expression.</p>http://www.microbialcellfactories.com/content/4/1/34
spellingShingle Lawrence Ann-Marie
Dümmler Annett
de Marco Ario
Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectors
Microbial Cell Factories
title Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectors
title_full Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectors
title_fullStr Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectors
title_full_unstemmed Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectors
title_short Simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in <it>E. coli </it>using a modular set of vectors
title_sort simplified screening for the detection of soluble fusion constructs expressed in it e coli it using a modular set of vectors
url http://www.microbialcellfactories.com/content/4/1/34
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