Design and Construction of ctxB-gfp-stxB Gene Cassette and Investigation of Its Expression in E. coli Bl21 (DE3)

Background & Objective: In order to enhance the expression of soluble proteins and facilitate their purification and development of multi-functional polypeptide , chimerical recombinant proteins have been invented . The purpose of this study was to construct ctxB-gfp-stxB gene cassette to measure the uptake and excretion of chimerical antigen in future studies.   Materials & Methods: After preparation of primers for gfp gene as a reporter gene , ctxB and stxB, attempts were made to amplify the genes via the PCR techniques . The amplified genes were clone d in the pGEM vector and after confirmation of the gene fragments, they were fused as ctxB-gfp-stxB. The gene cassette was thereafter sub-cloned in the pET28a(+) expression vector. E. coli Bl21 (DE3) was transformed by the recombinant vector pET28a(+), and the expression of the recombinant protein was investigated by IPTG induction and SDS-PAGEelectrophoresis.   Results: The amplified genes were cloned in the pGEM vector, and were confirmed via PCR, restriction enzymes, and sequence analyzing system. The confirmed gene fragments were mixed together as ctxB-gfp-stxB . The existence of the gene cassette was confirmed after sub-cloning. The expression was not observed for this gene cassette in E . coli.   Conclusion: The presence of a large number of E. coli rare codons in ctxB and stxB gene sequences precluded the expression of the gene cassette in E. coli it, therefore, requires the discovery of a suitable host cell for its expression and optimization. Given the gene cassette structure and position of restriction enzymes on the constructed fragment, this gene can be replaced with different genes and can produce a variety of gene fragments.