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In Vitro Recombination of Non-Homologous Genes Can Result in Gene Fusions that Confer a Switching Phenotype to Cells.

Authors :
Heins, Richard A.
Choi, Jay H.
Sohka, Takayuki
Ostermeier, Marc
Source :
PLoS ONE; 2011, Vol. 6 Issue 11, p1-8, 8p
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

Regulation of protein activity is central to the complexity of life. The ability to regulate protein activity through exogenously added molecules has biotechnological/biomedical applications and offers tools for basic science. Such regulation can be achieved by establishing a means to modulate the specific activity of the protein (i.e. allostery). An alternative strategy for intracellular regulation of protein activity is to control the amount of protein through effects on its production, accumulation, and degradation. We have previously demonstrated that the non-homologous recombination of the genes encoding maltose binding protein (MBP) and TEM1 β-lactamase (BLA) can result in fusion proteins in which b-lactamase enzyme activity is allosterically regulated by maltose. Here, through use of a two-tiered genetic selection scheme, we demonstrate that such recombination can result in genes that confer maltose-dependent resistance to b-lactam even though they do not encode allosteric enzymes. These 'phenotypic switch' genes encode fusion proteins whose accumulation is a result of a specific interaction with maltose. Phenotypic switches represent an important class of proteins for basic science and biotechnological applications in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19326203
Volume :
6
Issue :
11
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
PLoS ONE
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
73904329
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0027302