A Bacterial Machinery for Surface Displayed Enzymes

Biomaterial based protein delivery systems have been utilized for many applications in biomedicine. Despite their great success, there is a need to develop innovative living, decision making systems for protein delivery. In this context, here, a cellular system is proposed for protein release and delivery. Such systems can be used not for biomedical purposes but also for other biochemical applications. In this regard a Escherichia coli autotransporter protein, Ag43 was engineered to display on its cell membrane. Using this system alkaline phosphatase protein is displayed on the cell surface as a fusion of Ag43-ALP which is also carrying a specific TEV protease excision site. It was shown that the active from of the enzyme was released upon its interaction with TEV protease from the cell surface. In this study a cellular machinery is proposed to be used as a controlled enzyme delivery system.