Angelika Wegerer, Tianqi Sun and Josef Altenbuchner

Institut für Industrielle Genetik, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

BMC Biotechnology 2008, 8:2 [Open Access].

Abstract

Background

A capable expression vector is mainly characterized by its production efficiency, stability and induction response. These features can be influenced by a variation of modifications and versatile genetic modules.

Results

We examined miscellaneous variations of a rhaP_BAD expression vector. The introduction of a stem loop into the translation initiation region of the rhaP_BAD promoter resulted in the most significant improvement of eGFP expression. Starting from this plasmid, we constructed a set of expression vectors bearing different genetic modules like rop, ccdAB, cer and combinations thereof, and tested the efficiency of expression and plasmid stability. The plasmid pWA21, containing the stem loop, one cer site and rop, attained high expression levels accompanied by a good stability, and on that score seems to be a well-balanced choice.

Conclusion

We report the generation of variations of the rhaP_BAD expression vector and characterization hereof. The genetic modules showed a complex interplay, therefore two positive effects combined sometimes resulted in a disadvantage.