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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Expression of Recombinant Proteins in the Methylotrophic Yeast Pichia pastoris
Published on: February 25, 2010
Production of a recombinant Fab in Pichia pastoris from a Monocistronic expression vector
Rafael Trindade Burtet1, Marcos Antônio Santos-Silva, Guilherme Antônio Marques Buss
1Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
Abstract:
Recombinant Fab is usually expressed using dicistronic vectors producing the heavy and light chains separately. We developed an improved vector for Fab fragment expression in Pichia pastoris, which allows a stoichiometric expression of both chains based on a monocistronic arrangement. The protein is produced as a unique polypeptide harbouring a KEX2 processing site between both chains. After KEX cleavage, a correctly folded mature Fab is formed. The produced recombinant protein is characterized as a heterodimeric functional Fab. The vector described is a new tool for the proper expression of antibody fragments or any heterodimeric polypeptides.
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