Expression systems Flashcards
What are the different expression systems?
In vitro Prokaryotes Yeast Fungal Insect Mammalian
What must be considered in a gene insert for expression?
Optimal codons for tRNA A promoter (or in vector) RBS Secretory signal sequence Fusion tag mRNA stability
Outline the purification strategy?
Add tags Clone coding sequence Identify regulatory region and induction Collect cells and medium DNase/physical destruction of Nucleic acids Purify protein
What volume of protein can E.coli produce?
240mg/L
What are advantages of E.coli as a host?
Rapid culturing
Easy transformation
Accepts a range of vectors
Well characterised genome
What are the limitations of E.coli host cell?
No PTM
Only cDNA
Some proteins are insoluble/toxic/unstable
Where are recombinant proteins expressed?
Heterologous or homologous organisms
What are the advantages of yeast cell hosts?
Cheap Many types of vector Large numbers of plasmids Some PTM Homologous genes can be deleted Constitutive or inducible expression
Do yeast cells accept all eukaryotic genes?
No
Are induction systems all switch derived?
No, some can be concentration sensitive
How can the T7 induction system be used?
Induce with IPTG
LacZ transcribes T7 polymerase in Ecoli genome
T7 polymerase targets promoter in plasmid to transcribe gene
When are cells auto induced?
OD= 0.6
Why is auto induction used?
To combat poor cell growth/decline without constant monitoring
Where are fusion tags added?
N or C terminal
What structure are fusion tags?
In frame, associated with cleavage sites
C terminal must remove stop codon
What are 3 examples of fusion tags?
Streptag mimicks biotin to bind streptavidin. Elutes with desthiobiotin
Histag binds nickel and is eluted with imidazole
Maltose binding proteins bind amylose and is eluted with maltose.
What are secretory signal sequences?
N
Basic
20-30 hydrophobes
Polar
What do secretory signal sequences cause?
Secretion from cell, formation of disulphide bonds
What target within a secretory signal sequence is targetted by proteases?
Polar residues
What are the higher eukaryotic systems?
insect and mammalian
Why are higher eukaryotic systems used?
functional studies, “quality not quanitity”
How do higher eukaryotic cultures grow?
Immortal colonies as adherent monolayers in a flask or in suspension of spinner flasks. Can be confluent
What levels of expression are used in mammalian cells?
Natural levels maintained by low copy numbers of the plasmid.
Is expression in a mammalian cell maintained?
No replication through mitosis thus transient but continuous antibiotic selection can drive integration
What type of promoters are used in mammalian expression?
Viral or genomic