Dihydrofolate reductase gene as a versatile expression marker.
The Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene has been used as a genetic marker specifying trimethoprim resistance (TmpR). In order to use the DHFR gene as a versatile expression marker, we have constructed three types of plasmids: promoter cloning vector, terminator cloning vector, and the plasmid containing the DHFR gene cassette. In these systems, the selection of recombinant plasmids was carried out just by examining the TmpR phenotype of the transformed cells. Then, levels of the enzymatic activity of DHFR were measured to evaluate the efficiency of promoters and terminators in the fused DNA fragment. An expression plasmid which resulted in the E. coli host cells being able to produce DHFR up to 20% of total cellular proteins was also constructed by changing the promoter and Shine-Dalgarno sequences of the DHFR gene.
Iwakura
M
M
Research Institute for Polymers and Textiles, Ibaraki.
Tanaka
T
T
D001483:Base Sequence; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013728:Terminator Regions, Genetic; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014296:Trimethoprim Resistance / Q000235:genetics*
D005819:Genetic Markers; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase