A molecular biotechnologist's toolbox is filled with vectors, promoters and expression cassettes, just as the one that a synthetic biologists should have. We collected a wealth of experience with these tools and our students are taught to be strong in DNA technology in general.
VectorsWe have a long-standing experience in vector construction. In 2oo9 we published a paper on a versatile expression vector for production of two-domain proteins, such as single-chain antibodies (scFv) on which we worked for several years.
Recently, we started a project in cooperation with a group from
Russia on improving an expression vector for cyanobacterial cells.
Work is in progress.
For large-scale biotech operations it is hard to imagine that costly inducers are used. We thus focused onto metal-induced systems for cyanobacteria. Several were tested along with determining effect that metals have on the growth of wild-type cyanobacteria. We use Zn, Se, Fe, Co and Cu salts as inducers.
Promoter strength is an important parameter in selecting the right vector. In our 2010 Analytical Biochemistry paper we describe an alternative approach to promoter strength evaluation that is based on expression of the kanamycin resistance gene.
Our fluorometers proved to be insufficiently sensitive to detect the subtle changes in reporter protein expression. We thus optimized a chromogenic assay based on beta galactosidase activity for work with GM cyanobacteria. We are getting consistent and repetitive results with the Miller assay now.