title: Codon optimization improves heterologous expression of a Schistosoma mansoni cDNA in HEK293 cells.
abstract: Differences in codon usage can seriously hamper the expression of cloned cDNAs in heterologous systems. In this study, we show that the expression of a cloned Schistosoma mansoni cDNA in cultured HEK293 cells was dramatically increased by rewriting a portion of the cDNA according to human preferred codon usage, suggesting that codon optimization is a valuable strategy for improving the heterologous expression of helminth sequences. We further describe a simple modification of a recursive PCR-based method, which allows the rewriting of long stretches of DNA sequence in a single PCR reaction. This method can be used to optimize the codon usage of virtually any DNA from helminths and other parasites.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, 21, 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada.
authors.forename: Fadi F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018509:DNA, Helminth