Expression of the atpE Gene Coding for the epsilon Subunit of Maize Chloroplast Coupling Factor

The entire atpE gene of the maize chloroplast coupling factor was inserted into the polylinker region of vectors pJLA505 and pWA to form recombinant plasmids pJLA505-atpE and pWA-atpE respectively. These expression plasmids were transformed into E. coli NM522 which induced at 42 degrees. By the analysis of SDS-PAGE, the expressed product of interest was observed to account fore more than 3o% of total E. coliproteins. The identification of the expressed product demonstrated that its immunological specificity was well retained. The antiserum cross-reacted with the expressed epsilon protein and CF(1)-epsilon protein of spinach and produced precipitin lines on Ouchterlony immunodiffusion test. The expressed product aggregated insolubly as the inclusion body and was purified to over 80% purity. The purified product had the same function as that of the native epsilon subunit.