Find valuable information.

Optimize your experiments to get the best results. We’ve compiled a detailed knowledge base of the top tips and tricks to meet your research needs.

View the relevant questions below:

 

Having problems with your experiment?  Visit our

Troubleshooting page

 

Expression Vectors

An expression vector typically contains the following elements:

  • Gene of interest expression cassette (including promoter-gene-termination or poly(A) signal)
  • Antibiotic selection cassette for particular host
  • Antibiotic selection cassette for E. coli
  • Bacterial origin of replication

Additional elements include:

  • Cloning site
  • Epitope tags
  • Secretion signal (at N-terminus)

Please view the table below for a list of common constitutive and inducible promoters used.

Host

Constitutive Promoters

Inducible Promoters

Inducer

E. coli

Not commonly available

Lac (lactose operon); araBAD (arabinose operon)

IPTG
Arabinose

Yeast

GAP (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase)

AOX1 (alcohol oxidase); GAL1 (galactose biosynthesis)

Methanol
Galactose

Insect

Ac5 (actin); OpIE1 & 2, PH (polyhedron)

MT (metallothionein)

Copper

Mammalian

CMV (Cytomegalovirus), EF-1 (human elongation factor-1), UbC (human ubiquitin C), SV40 (Simian virus 40)

Promoter with TetO2 (tetracycline operator); promoter with GAL4 UAS (yeast GAL4 upstream activating sequence)

Tetracycline or doxycycline;
mifepristone

No; while transcripts will be made, there is no ribosome-binding site (RBS) or Shine-Dalgarno sequence to initiate translation. Therefore, mRNA will be transcribed in E. coli but the message will not be translated into protein.

A ribosome-binding site (RBS) is a segment of the 5' (upstream) part of an mRNA molecule that binds to the ribosome to position the message correctly for the initiation of translation. The RBS controls the accuracy and efficiency with which the translation of mRNA begins. 

In prokaryotic mRNAs, the RBS lies about 7 nucleotides upstream from the start codon (i.e., the first AUG). It is also known as the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, which is composed of the polypurine sequence AGGAGG located just 5' of the AUG initiation codon. This sequence allows the message to bind efficiently to the ribosome due to its complementarity with the 3'-end of the 16S rRNA in the 30S ribosomal subunit. The Shine-Dalgarno sequence is required.

Protein synthesis in eukaryotes differs from this model. The 5' end of the mRNA has a modified chemical structure ("cap") recognized by the ribosome, which then binds the mRNA and moves along it ("scans") until it finds the first AUG codon. A characteristic pattern of bases (called a "Kozak sequence") is sometimes found around that codon and assists in positioning the mRNA correctly in a manner reminiscent of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, but not involving base pairing with the ribosomal RNA. Hence, the Kozak sequence is not a ribosome-binding site, but rather a translation initiation enhancer. The consensus Kozak sequence is G/ANNAUGG, where AUG is the initiation codon. A purine (A/G) in position –3 has a dominant effect; with a pyrimidine (C/T) in position –3, translation becomes more sensitive to changes in positions –1, –2, and +4. Expression levels can be reduced up to 95% when the –3 position is changed from a purine to a pyrimidine. The +4 position has less influence on expression levels where approximately 50% reduction is seen. Note: Yeast do not follow this rule. The optimal Kozak sequence for Drosophila differs slightly (C/AAAA/CAUG).

ATG is often sufficient for efficient translation initiation, although it depends upon the gene of interest. The best advice is to keep the native start site found in the cDNA unless one knows that it is not functionally ideal. If concerned about expression, it is advisable to test two constructs, one with the native start site and the other with a consensus Kozak. In general, all expression vectors that have an N-terminal fusion will already have a RBS or initiation site for translation.

An IRES is an internal ribosome entry site that allows for end-independent initiation of translation. Researchers typically include an IRES when cloning two or more genes, and want them to be expressed with the same promoter.  

Transcription is stopped by a termination sequence that follows your gene of interest. Some examples of transcriptional terminators follow:

E. coli: T7 terminator

Yeast: AOX and CYC1 terminators

Insect: SV40 terminator

Mammalian: SV40 and BGH

Viral: 3’ LTR

Epitope tags are typically included to allow for easy detection or rapid purification of your gene of interest by fusing the tag with your gene of interest. Epitope tags can be on either the N-terminus or C-terminus of your gene of interest. Here are some considerations to take into account when using an epitope tag:

  1. N-terminal tags may have protease cleavage sites
  2. N-terminal tags have RBS/Kozak included
  3. Secretion signals are always N-terminal and are automatically cleaved off during Golgi processing
  4. Replace the native secretion signal if present in the gene of interest
  5. Choose an N-terminal tag when the C-terminus of the protein is important for function
  6. Ensure that a stop codon is present at the end of your gene of interest when working with an N-terminal tag
  7. If including an N-terminal tag, ensure that your gene is in-frame with the tag
  8. Choose a C-terminal tag when the N-terminus of the protein is important for function or if the protein is uncharacterized
  9. Make sure to omit the stop codon from your gene of interest for fusion with C-terminal tags; a stop codon is present at the end of the C-terminal tag
  10. Make sure to include your start codon (ATG) as well as a RBS/Kozak sequence if needed at the start of your gene of interest when working with C-terminal tags
  11. If including a C-terminal tag, ensure that the tag is in-frame with your gene of interest

Here are some basic guidelines to help you select an epitope tag:

Purpose

Description

Examples of tag

Detection

Well-characterized antibody available against the tag
Easily visualized

V5, Xpress, myc, 6XHis, GST, BioEase™, capTEV™, GFP, Lumio™

Purification

Resins available to facilitate purification

6XHis, GST, BioEase™, capTEV™

Cleavable

Protease recognition site (TEV, EK) to remove tag after expression to get native protein

Any tag with a protease recognition site following the tag (only on N-terminus)

The differences in the A, B, and C forms of our vectors are a result of either single base pair addition or deletion in the multiple cloning site of the vector. As a result of these single-base changes, we have generated 3 separate reading frames for each type of vector. This feature will enable cloning a gene of interest in-frame with the C-terminal tag using the restriction enzyme of choice. The three reading frames A, B, and C are provided in three separate tubes.

Expression Systems

Please use the table below to review the different characteristics each system offers:

Characteristics

E. coli

Yeast

Insect

Mammalian

Cell growth

Rapid (30 min)

Rapid (90 min)

Slow (18–24 hr)

Slow (24 hr)

Complexity of growth media

Minimum

Minimum

Complex

Complex

Cost of growth media

Low

Low

High

High

Expression level

High

Low–high

Low–high

Low–moderate

Extracellular expression

Secretion to periplasm

Secretion to medium

Secretion to medium

Secretion to medium

Post-translational modification

None

Moderate

High

High

Protein folding

Refolding usually required

Refolding usually required

Proper folding

Proper folding

N-linked glycosylation

None

High mannose

Simple, no sialic acid

Complex

O-linked glycosylation

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Phosphorylation

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Acetylation

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Acylation

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Gamma-carboxylation

No

No

No

Yes

Host Organism

Most Common Application

Advantages

Challenges

Cell-free

  • Toxic proteins
  • Incorporation of unnatural label or amino acids
  • Functional assays
  • Protein interactions
  • Rapid expression screening
  • Open system; able to add unnatural components
  • Fast expression
  • Simple format
  • Scalable
  • Limited to microgram quantities
  • Scaling above milligram quantities may not be cost-effective

Prokaryotic

  • Structural analysis
  • Antibody generation
  • Functional assays
  • Protein interactions
  • Scalable
  • Low cost
  • Simple culture conditions
  • Protein solubility
  • May require protein-specific optimization
  • May be difficult to express some mammalian proteins

Yeast

  • Structural analysis
  • Antibody generation
  • Functional analysis
  • Protein interactions
  • Eukaryotic protein processing
  • Scalable up to fermentation (grams per liter)
  • Simple media requirements
  • Fermentation required for very high yields
  • Growth conditions may require optimization

Insect

  • Functional assays
  • Structural analysis
  • Antibody generation
  • Similar to mammalian protein processing
  • Greater yield than mammalian systems

More demanding culture conditions

Mammalian

  • Functional assays
  • Protein interactions
  • Antibody generation

Highest-level protein processing

  • Multi-gram per liter yields only possible in suspension cultures
  • More demanding culture conditions

Algae

  • Studying photosynthesis, plant biology, lipid metabolism
  • Genetic engineering
  • Biofuel production
  • Genetic modification and expression systems for photosynthetic microalgae
  • Superb experimental control for biofuel, nutraceuticals, and specialty chemical production
  • Optimized system for robust selection and expression