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Journal of Structural Biology, Vol.203, No.2, 71-80, 2018
Baculovirus-driven protein expression in insect cells: A benchmarking study
Baculovirus-insect cell expression system has become one of the most widely used eukaryotic expression systems for heterologous protein production in many laboratories. The availability of robust insect cell lines, serum-free media, a range of vectors and commercially-packaged kits have supported the demand for maximizing the exploitation of the baculovirus-insect cell expression system. Naturally, this resulted in varied strategies adopted by different laboratories to optimize protein production. Most laboratories have preference in using either the E. coli transposition-based recombination bacmid technology (e.g. Bac-to-Bac((R)))or homologous recombination transfection within insect cells (e.g. flashBAC (TM)). Limited data is presented in the literature to benchmark the protocols used for these baculovirus vectors to facilitate the selection of a system for optimal production of target proteins. Taking advantage of the Protein Production and Purification Partnership in Europe (P4EU) scientific network, a benchmarking initiative was designed to compare the diverse protocols established in thirteen individual laboratories. This benchmarking initiative compared the expression of four selected intracellular proteins (mouse Dicer-2, 204kDa; human ABL1 wildtype, 126kDa; human FMRP, 68 kDa; viral vNSl-Hl, 76kDa). Here, we present the expression and purification results on these proteins and highlight the significant differences in expression yields obtained using different commercially-packaged baculovirus vectors. The highest expression level for difficult-to-express intracellular protein candidates were observed with the EmBacY baculovirus vector system.
Keywords:Baculovirus-insect cell system;Benchmark