Genomic cloning, expression and recombinant protein purification of alpha and beta subunits of the allophycocyanin gene (apc) from the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans UTEX 625

A genomic fragment encoding alpha(APC) and beta(APC) (i.e., alpha and beta units of the allophycocyanin, APC) from Anacystis nidulans UTEX 625 was cloned and sequenced. This fragment, containing a non-coding sequence of 56 nucleotides in between, was then subcloned into the expression vector pMal-c2 downstream from and in frame with the malE gene of E. coli encoding MBP ( maltose binding protein). The fusion protein was purified by amylose affinity chromatography and cleaved by coagulation factor Xa. alpha(APC) and beta(APC) were then separated from MBP and MBP fusion proteins, respectively, and concentrated by membrane centrifugation. The study provides a method to produce recombinant allophycocyanin subunits for biomedical and biotechnological applications.

A genomic fragment encoding alpha(APC) and beta(APC) (i.e., alpha and beta units of the allophycocyanin, APC) from Anacystis nidulans UTEX 625 was cloned and sequenced. This fragment, containing a non-coding sequence of 56 nucleotides in between, was then subcloned into the expression vector pMal-c2 downstream from and in frame with the malE gene of E. coli encoding MBP ( maltose binding protein). The fusion protein was purified by amylose affinity chromatography and cleaved by coagulation factor Xa. alpha(APC) and beta(APC) were then separated from MBP and MBP fusion proteins, respectively, and concentrated by membrane centrifugation. The study provides a method to produce recombinant allophycocyanin subunits for biomedical and biotechnological applications.