Chien S-F, Chen S-H, Lin C-T
Northern Illinois University, US
Keywords: gene expression, nanoparticle, therapeutic protein, yeast cell
We report the enhancement of gene expression for rice -galactosidase gene (-Gal) in yeast cells assisted by metal nanomaterials. Au and Ag nanoparticles, and their nanocomposites, silica@Au and silica@Ag were prepared and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and SEM technique. We have cloned rice -galactosidase gene into the yeast chromosome, where the cloned cells were pre-cultured and induced into a medium containing each of the testing nanomaterials. The enzyme activity was determined by a synthetic substrate, p-nitrophenyl--D-galctopyranoside, and the yellow product yield was read in a spectrophotometer at 400 nm. When Au and Ag nanoparticles were added to the culture, a 3-5 fold enhancement in -galactosidase was observed for intracellular activity as well as the secreted activity into the medium. The secreted protein was analyzed to have a pure form and displayed as a single protein band in the SDS-gel electrophoresis. The plausible mechanism on the effect of nanomaterials in gene expression for the rice -galactosidase gene in yeast cells will be discussed.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2007 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: May 20, 2007
Pages: 382 - 385
Industry sector: Medical & Biotech
Topics: Biomaterials, Materials for Drug & Gene Delivery
ISBN: 1-4200-6183-6