title: Cloning strategy for producing brush-forming protein-based polymers.
abstract: Brush-forming polymers are being used in a variety of applications, and by using recombinant DNA technology, there exists the potential to produce protein-based polymers that incorporate unique structures and functions in these brush layers. Despite this potential, production of protein-based brush-forming polymers is not routinely performed. For the design and production of new protein-based polymers with optimal brush-forming properties, it would be desirable to have a cloning strategy that allows an iterative approach wherein the protein based-polymer product can be produced and evaluated, and then if necessary, it can be sequentially modified in a controlled manner to obtain optimal surface density and brush extension. In this work, we report on the development of a cloning strategy intended for the production of protein-based brush-forming polymers. This strategy is based on the assembly of modules of DNA that encode for blocks of protein-based polymers into a commercially available expression vector; there is no need for custom-modified vectors and no need for intermediate cloning vectors. Additionally, because the design of new protein-based biopolymers can be an iterative process, our method enables sequential modification of a protein-based polymer product. With at least 21 bacterial expression vectors and 11 yeast expression vectors compatible with this strategy, there are a number of options available for production of protein-based polymers. It is our intent that this strategy will aid in advancing the production of protein-based brush-forming polymers.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.
authors: Douglas B
authors: DB
authors: Henderson
authors: Richey M
authors: RM
authors: Davis
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Ducker
authors: Kevin E
authors: KE
authors: Van Cott
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA