Strain Engineering for Membrane Protein

CD Biosynsis is committed to integrating advanced protein engineering, metabolic engineering, and gene circuit design technologies to optimize membrane protein synthesis systems and further improve the personalization, diversification, and stability of membrane protein synthesis.

Advantages of Synthetic Biology-Driven Membrane Protein Production

Membrane proteins are functionally rich, involved in many cellular reactions, and play a crucial role in the life activities of humans and other species. Membrane proteins can be classified into peripheral membrane proteins, integral membrane proteins, and lipid-anchored membrane proteins. Membrane proteins have become a focus of research in the fields of protein science, structural biology, medicine, and pharmacology due to their important applications in industry, environment, and defense. The biosynthesis of membrane proteins consists of two main components, which are protein expression and subsequent localization and assembly on biological membranes. Currently, the expression of membrane proteins is usually achieved using heterologous expression systems.

Figure 1. Membrane protein biogenesis in prokaryotes. (Freigassner M, et al., 2009)

What We Provide

Based on the synthetic biology platform, our scientists are dedicated to exploring the application of genetic circuits, protein engineering, and other technologies in the process of membrane protein production.

Deliverables

• Exogenous protein expression system that can be used for glycoprotein production.
• Functional membrane proteins.

How We Can Help

Membrane Protein Synthesis in Cell-Free Systems

The cell-free protein synthesis system is a classical protein synthesis technique. We have successfully developed a variety of cell-free protein expression systems for extracts, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and customers can choose the right system according to the target membrane protein to be expressed. The cell-free protein synthesis systems we have successfully constructed are listed below.

Optimization of Cell-Free Membrane Protein Synthesis

• Cell-free production of membrane proteins with nanodiscs. We are able to employ nanodisc assembly techniques to enable membrane proteins to maintain their conformation and biological functions as they would in a natural cell membrane.
• Detergent Screening. The detergent is bipolar and can provide the hydrophobic environment for membrane proteins in the detergent state, playing an important role in the separation and purification of membrane proteins. Based on the study of the critical micelle concentration, hydrophilic group, and hydrophobic group properties of various detergents, we are able to help our customers to screen suitable detergents and avoid detergents inhibiting the activity of other components in the granule expression system.

Development of Microbial Chassis for Membrane Protein Production

We have successfully constructed a variety of microbial chassis for membrane protein production. At the same time, we use different strategies to optimize the membrane protein production process based on the influencing factors in the process. Currently, most strategies to optimize membrane protein expression focus on modifying the membrane protein itself and optimizing microbial culture conditions. The following are the microbial chassis and optimization strategies we can provide for membrane protein production.

• Increasing membrane protein stability by chemical chaperones.
• Improving membrane protein yield by modifying the N-terminal and C-terminal.
• Random or directed mutagenesis of genes encoding membrane proteins.

Applications of Membrane Protein

CD Biosynsis can develop tailored tools and customized approaches to harness the power of synthetic biology to drive membrane protein production and meet the needs of customers in a variety of industries.

• For drug discovery.
• Used for making biosensors.
• As a drug delivery vehicle.
• Application in the field of cell therapy.

Want to Learn More?

CD Biosynsis provides the most comprehensive and efficient solutions for synthetic biology workflows. We are committed to helping our customers solve all problems encountered in membrane protein production to advance their applications in a wide range of fields. Each of our deliverables will undergo a rigorous quality inspection test to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results. If you are interested in our services or have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Reference

1. Freigassner M, et al. Tuning microbial hosts for membrane protein production. Microb Cell Fact. 2009 Dec 29; 8: 69.

Please note that all services are for research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.