Premium
The incorporation of the A2 protein to produce novel Qβ virus‐like particles using cell‐free protein synthesis
Author(s) -
Smith Mark T.,
Varner Chad T.,
Bush Derek B.,
Bundy Bradley C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biotechnology progress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.572
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6033
pISSN - 8756-7938
DOI - 10.1002/btpr.744
Subject(s) - cell free protein synthesis , coat protein , protein engineering , virus like particle , protein biosynthesis , population , bacteriophage , chemistry , virus , nanotechnology , biology , materials science , biochemistry , enzyme , virology , gene , recombinant dna , escherichia coli , rna , demography , sociology
Virus‐like particles (VLPs) have been employed for a number of nanometric applications because they self‐assemble, exhibit a high degree of symmetry, and can be genetically and chemically modified. However, high symmetry does not allow for a single unique modification site on the VLP. Here, we demonstrate the co‐expression of the cytotoxic A2 protein and the coat protein of the bacteriophage Qβ to form a nearly monodispersed population of novel VLPs. Cell‐free protein synthesis allows for direct access and optimization of protein‐synthesis and VLP‐assembly. The A2 is shown to be incorporated at high efficiency, approaching a theoretical maximum of one A2 per VLP. This work demonstrates de novo production of a novel VLP, which contains a unique site that has the potential for future nanometric engineering applications. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012