Editorial Article
Friday January 23, 2009
If you haven't explored new technologies in gene expression in the past couple of years, it may be time to upgrade your expression vector. Gene expression applications have become more diverse and more specialized, encompassing new discoveries in microRNA, stem cell research, gene silencing, and more. As a result, tools for gene expression have also become more diverse and more specialized. Many expression vectors streamline time consuming steps like subcloning or PCR. Solutions exist for common pitfalls like cytotoxicity and nonspecific expression effects. The most important consideration in choosing an expression vector is your host system. Different cell types require different features in a vector. Vectors are available that are customized for all of the major expression systems: bacterial cells, mammalian cells, insect cells, and yeast two-hybrid systems. Even if you've been working with one particular expression system for decades, you may be pleasantly surprised with the results you can get with the newer vectors. Detection technologies are also an important consideration. Most vectors are available with tags such as histidine or GFP for easy identification and purification of the expression product. However, any type of tag attached to a gene will affect its expression. Label-free detection technologies have come a long way in recent years, so it may be worth it to make the leap and go "naked." The resources on this page can help you get started looking for the right expression vector for your needs.