Protein production for structural genomics using E. coli expression

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1140:89-105. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0354-2_7.

Abstract

The goal of structural biology is to reveal details of the molecular structure of proteins in order to understand their function and mechanism. X-ray crystallography and NMR are the two best methods for atomic level structure determination. However, these methods require milligram quantities of proteins. In this chapter a reproducible methodology for large-scale protein production applicable to a diverse set of proteins is described. The approach is based on protein expression in E. coli as a fusion with a cleavable affinity tag that was tested on over 20,000 proteins. Specifically, a protocol for fermentation of large quantities of native proteins in disposable culture vessels is presented. A modified protocol that allows for the production of selenium-labeled proteins in defined media is also offered. Finally, a method for the purification of His6-tagged proteins on immobilized metal affinity chromatography columns that generates high-purity material is described in detail.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computational Biology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Biology / methods*
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Proteins