How to bring hands-on protein expression and purification to your classroom
Protein expression and purification as essential biotech skills
Purified proteins play important roles in areas as diverse as medicine and biofuel production. To make these proteins, scientists introduce DNA to cells in a culture. These cells will produce the protein of interest from information encoded in the DNA—a process known as protein expression.
Once the protein is made, it is isolated from other proteins and cellular components in the cell culture. Scientists isolate their protein of interest using methods that separate molecules based on their physical properties. A common method uses large columns filled with beads that separate proteins based on size, charge, hydrophobicity, or specific binding interactions.
An affordable way to bring protein expression and purification to your classroom
Traditional methods of using cell culture for protein expression and columns for protein purification are powerful, but often too complex, expensive, and time-consuming for classroom use. That’s where our novel Protein Purification Biotech Skills Lab comes in, offering an affordable, accessible, and engaging alternative.
In this activity, students use cutting-edge cell-free technology to express a mixture of fluorescent proteins in a test tube without the need to grow living cells. They then separate fluorescent proteins of different colors with easy-to-use magnetic beads and our brand-new Pullit™ magnet system instead of columns! The protocol is quick and straightforward and requires minimal equipment, making it a very classroom-friendly lab perfect for demonstrating protein expression and purification as essential biotech skills.
Protein expression purification is a fundamental technique in biotechnology, opening doors to many discoveries and applications. Empower your students to become the next generation of protein pioneers!
