Introduction to Cell-Based Protein Expression

Methods of producing or manufacturing functional proteins are necessary to study the biological roles of proteins of interest. Protein expression can be used across diverse areas of life science research. It has been the core activity of high throughput screening, functional validation, and structural biology. Many synthetic biology methods also rely on protein expression.

Given the different sizes, characterization, and complexity of proteins, different cell-based expression systems, including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic protein expression systems, have been developed. Each system has its own advantages and challenges. For protein expression to be successful, selecting a suitable system for the specific application is essential. The selection is mainly based on protein type, protein yield, and the requirements for functional activity.