Bacterial Expression Vectors

Bacterial expression vectors are plasmids used to introduce recombinant DNA for protein expression within bacteria. The transformed vector uses the host protein synthesis mechanisms to express the encoded gene(s), usually fused to a protein tag for protein purification. E. coli is the most common host, although other bacteria may also be used. Some eukaryotic proteins may not be correctly expressed in bacterial expression vectors as they can require post-translational modifications which cannot be accurately conferred in a prokaryotic cell. When selecting a suitable bacterial expression vector, it is important to consider the promoter and regulator present, as well as any selectable markers and detection tags. Common promoters are the T7 and lac operon promoters, while selectable markers are often antibiotic resistance genes. Browse the products below to find the bacterial vector that best suits your research needs.