Bacterial-based membrane protein production

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta 2014-08, Vol.1843 (8), p.1739-1749
• Main Authors: Schlegel, Susan, Hjelm, Anna, Baumgarten, Thomas, Vikström, David, de Gier, Jan-Willem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biochemistry; biokemi; Biotechnology - methods; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell-Free System - metabolism; Cytoplasm - chemistry; Cytoplasm - metabolism; E. coli; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Membrane protein; Membrane Proteins - biosynthesis; Membrane Proteins - chemistry; Protein Engineering; Protein production; Protein Transport - genetics
• ISSN: 0167-4889; 0006-3002; 1879-2596; 1879-2596
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2013.10.023

Escherichia coli is by far the most widely used bacterial host for the production of membrane proteins. Usually, different strains, culture conditions and production regimes are screened for to design the optimal production process. However, these E. coli-based screening approaches often do not result in satisfactory membrane protein production yields. Recently, it has been shown that (i) E. coli strains with strongly improved membrane protein production characteristics can be engineered or selected for, (ii) many membrane proteins can be efficiently produced in E. coli-based cell-free systems, (iii) bacteria other than E. coli can be used for the efficient production of membrane proteins, and, (iv) membrane protein variants that retain functionality but are produced at higher yields than the wild-type protein can be engineered or selected for. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein trafficking and secretion in bacteria. Guest Editors: Anastassios Economou and Ross Dalbey. •E. coli is widely used for the production of membrane proteins.•Production yields are often not sufficient for functional and structural studies.•Strain engineering, cell-free systems and using other bacteria can improve yields.•Also membrane protein targets with improved production characteristics can be created.