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Related Concept Videos

Role of Proteins in the Human Body01:28

Role of Proteins in the Human Body

Proteins are the building block of life. They are also  the most abundant macromolecules with as many diverse roles in the body. They are part of many structural components that provide unique shapes and structures to animal cells, tissues, and organs. In addition, they also act as biological catalysts and carry out several anabolic and catabolic reactions. Notably, some proteins are chemical messengers and regulate many critical processes, such as metabolism, growth, and development. They are...
Structural Protein Function01:56

Structural Protein Function

Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity.  In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to form...
Matrix Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins01:21

Matrix Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins

Proteoglycans are extensively glycosylated proteins, commonly found in the extracellular matrix, interwoven with collagen fibers. Hyaline cartilage, the most common type of cartilage in the body, consists of short and dispersed collagen fibers associated with large amounts of proteoglycans. These proteoglycans have long negative charges that attract cations, which in turn attract water molecules. This influx of ions and water molecules swells up the proteoglycan like a water-soaked gel that can...
Introduction to Membrane Proteins01:16

Introduction to Membrane Proteins

The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, is an ever-changing landscape. It is described as a fluid mosaic where various macromolecules are embedded in the phospholipid bilayer. Among the macromolecules are proteins. The protein content varies across cell types. For example, mitochondrial inner membranes contain ~76% protein content, while myelin contains ~18% protein content. Individual cells contain many types of membrane proteins—red blood cells contain over 50—and different cell types have...
Proteins: From Genes to Degradation02:11

Proteins: From Genes to Degradation

Within a biological system, the DNA encodes the RNA, and the nucleotide sequence in the RNA further defines the amino acid sequence in the protein. This is referred to as “The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology” - a term coined by Francis Crick.  Central dogma is a firm principle in biology that defines the flow of genetic information within any life form. The two fundamental steps in central dogma are - transcription and translation.
Transcription is the synthesis of RNA molecules by RNA...
Mechanical Protein Functions01:58

Mechanical Protein Functions

Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force. 

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Efficient Mammalian Cell Expression and Single-step Purification of Extracellular Glycoproteins for Crystallization
07:08

Efficient Mammalian Cell Expression and Single-step Purification of Extracellular Glycoproteins for Crystallization

Published on: December 23, 2015

Why proteins in mammalian cells?

James L Hartley1

  • 1Protein Expression Laboratory, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA. hartleyjames@mail.nih.gov

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|October 12, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Generating recombinant mammalian proteins in native conformation is crucial but unpredictable. This guide offers solutions for overcoming challenges in mammalian protein expression for researchers.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Protein Science

Background:

  • Producing recombinant mammalian proteins in native or near-native conformation is essential for biological research.
  • Overexpression of mammalian proteins in vitro can lead to toxicity or insolubility, presenting significant challenges.
  • Evolutionary adaptation of proteins for specific cellular contexts complicates heterologous expression.

Discussion:

  • This work addresses the unpredictability of recombinant protein expression in mammalian systems.
  • It provides practical guidance for researchers facing obstacles in protein production.
  • The focus is on achieving functional protein expression in a heterologous host.

Key Insights:

  • Mammalian protein expression requires careful consideration of host cell compatibility and protein folding.
  • Strategies to mitigate toxicity and insolubility are critical for successful recombinant protein production.
  • Understanding evolutionary constraints on protein expression is key to overcoming experimental hurdles.

Outlook:

  • This resource aims to improve the success rate of mammalian protein expression for diverse biological applications.
  • It empowers scientists to tackle complex protein production challenges.
  • Future research may focus on developing more robust expression systems and predictive modeling.