SBIR/STTR Phase I:Overexpression of Membrane Proteins from Hyperthermophilic Bacteria by a Novel Expression System

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel membrane protein expression system using hyperthermophilic bacteria that are capable of synthesizing a vast amount of membrane proteins and supporting extensive internal membrane structures. Membrane proteins are of significant medicinal value. However, efforts to study membrane proteins are often hampered by their low level of biosynthesis. An efficient membrane protein overexpression system will facilitate the biochemical and biophysical characterization of such proteins. In this project, self-replicating expression vectors, genome integrative vectors and mini-viral genome vectors will be constructed and explored for the expression of hyperthermophilic membrane proteins. To establish the general applicability of the system, the expression of various membrane proteins of different size, structure, and function will be examined. The system, once properly developed, will allow the economical mass production of hyperthermophilic membrane proteins essential for large-scale structural genomics effort as well as for specific industrial applications. The commercial applications of this project are in the area of Structural Genomics Research.