E. coli Bacteria
© HZI/Manfred Rohde
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Recombinant Protein Expression

HZI Campus

Proteins play an important role in infectious diseases. They not only take over central functions in the invasion and replication of pathogens, but also in the defensive reaction of our body or as a drug. For a detailed investigation of proteins, scientists often require them in large amounts and extremely pure state. Read more about how proteins are artificially produced and purified.

Dr Joop van den Heuvel

Head

Dr Joop van den Heuvel
Head of Research Group
+49 531 6181-7046

Our Research

The platform "Recombinant Protein Expression" is organized as a research group and works on the production of ultraclean proteins as a basis for subsequent high-resolution analysis of their molecular structure. For that, the scientists use different microorganisms or cells of complex organisms, on which they transfer the genetic information of the target protein. In the next step, they force the respective system to produce the foreign or recombinant protein.

 

Employee of the RPEX technology platform
© HZI/Bierstedt
Lab Recombinant Protein Expression

The four most important production systems the researchers have established are: 

  • the gut bacterium Escherichia coli,
  • the yeast Pichia pastoris,
  • the baculovirus in combination with insect cells and
  • finally several mammalian cell lines.

By using those systems the scientists are able to produce simple proteins as well as proteins with complex modifications or whole protein complexes. In addition to the optimization of recent methods and the development of new production techniques, the researchers further process the proteins and enrich them in high purity.

Since 2007, the research group runs a new cell culture facility for the production of proteins in insect and mammalian cells. The facility harbors several culture systems that can vary from 1.6 to 6 liters of volume. By that, 10 to 50 milligrams of protein arise. Furthermore, a 30-liter bioreactor serves for the purification of multi-protein complexes. It allows the production of protein in pilot scale by using several hundred liters of culture medium, which undergoes a continuous exchange.

Protein Production Network

In cooperation with the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin-Buch the HZI researchers founded a protein production network for a large-scale production and purification of protein samples (PSPS, Protein Sample Production Facility) in 2007. This project of the Helmholtz Association supports the structure biologists in Germany by taking the load of protein production off them. In addition, the facility offers trainings on the topic of protein expression in insect and mammalian cells to external scientists.

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