title: Functional protein aggregates: just the tip of the iceberg.
abstract: An increasing number of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell types are being adapted as platforms for recombinant protein production. The overproduction of proteins in such expression systems leads to the formation of insoluble protein-based aggregates. Although these protein clusters have been poorly studied in most of the eukaryotic systems, aggregates formed in E. coli, named inclusion bodies (IBs), have been deeply characterized in the last decades. Contrary to the general belief, an important fraction of the protein embedded in IB is functional, showing promise in biocatalysis, regenerative medicine and cell therapy. Thus, the exploration of all these functional protein clusters would largely expand their potential in both pharma and biotech industry.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Corchero
authors.affiliation: CIBBIM-Nanomedicine, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron & Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seras-Franzoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Ruminant Production, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Fruitós
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012995:Solubility; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D066329:Protein Aggregates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: functional protein aggregates; nanobiotechnology; nanomedicine; nanoparticles; recombinant protein