Since newly created beings are often perceived as either wholly good or bad, the genetic alteration of living cells impacts directly on a symbolic meaning deeply imbedded in every culture. During the earlier years of gene expression research, te- nological applications were confined mainly to academic and industrial laboratories, and were perceived as highly beneficial since molecules that were previously unable to be separated or synthesized became accessible as therapeutic agents. Such were the success stories of hormones, antibodies, and vaccines produced in the bacterium Escherichia coli. Originally this bacterium gained fame among humans for being an unwanted host in the intestine, or worse yet, for being occasionally dangerous and pathogenic. H- ever, it was easily identified in contaminated waters during the 19th century, thus becoming a clear indicator of water pollution by human feces. Tamed, cultivated, and easily maintained in laboratories, its fast growth rate and metabolic capacity to adjust to changing environments fascinated the minds of scientists who studied and modeled such complex phenomena as growth, evolution, genetic exchange, infection, survival, adaptation, and further on—gene expression. Although at the lower end of the complexity scale, this microbe became a very successful model system and a key player in the fantastic revolution kindled by the birth of recombinant DNA technology.

This title examines the history of biotechnology when it was new, especially when synonymous with recombinant DNA technology. It focuses on the academic community in the San Francisco Bay Area where recombinant DNA technology was developed and adopted as the first major commercial technology for genetic engineering at Stanford in the 1970s. The book argues that biotechnology was initially a hybrid creation of academic and commercial institutions held together by the assumption of a positive relationship between private ownership and the public interest.

Recombinant protein drugs are intimately associated with the impressive success story of the Biotech Industry during the past thirty years, some of them belonging to the most successful pharmaceutical products. More than thirty different proteins are available for a variety of clinical applications, over 300 proteins are presently being evaluated in clinical trials. In this new volume of the MDT series, historical, technical and clinical aspects of recombinant protein drug discovery and development are presented, covering past, present and future highlights. Leading scientists and co-founders of early Biotech companies describe technical breakthroughs and the fascinating story of pioneering discoveries, as well as the long way of translating them into products and business. Therefore, this book represents an exciting documentation of the beginning of a new era in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, scientists from basic research, clinic and industry actively involved in new developments discuss...

Recombinant DNA methods are powerful, revolutionary techniques that allow the isolation of single genes in large amounts from a pool of thousands or millions of genes and the modification of these isolated genes or their regulatory regions for reintroduction into cells for expression at the RNA or protein levels. These attributes lead to the solution of complex biological problems and the production of new and better products in the areas of medicine, agriculture, and industry. Recombinant DNA Methodology, a volume in the Selected Methods in Enzymology series produced in benchtop format, contains a selection of key articles from Volumes 68, 100, 101, 153, 154, and 155 of Methods in Enzymology. The essential and widely used procedures provided at an affordable price will be an invaluable aid to the graduate student and the researcher. - Enzymes in DNA research - DNA isolation, hybridization, and cloning - DNA sequence analysis - cDNA cloning - Gene products - Identification of cloned genes and mapping of genes - Monitoring cloned gene expression - Cloning and transferring of genes into yeast cells - Cloning and transferring of genes into plant cells - Cloning and transferring of genes into animal cells - Site-directed mutagenesis - Protein engineering - Expression vectors

While the choices of microbial and eukaryotic expression systems for production of recombinant proteins are many, most researchers in academic and industrial settings do not have ready access to pertinent biological and technical information since it is normally scattered throughout the scientific literature. This book closes the gap by providing information on the general biology of the host organism, a description of the expression platform, a methodological section -- with strains, genetic elements, vectors and special methods, where applicable -- as well as examples of proteins produced with the respective platform. The systems thus described are well balanced by the inclusion of three prokaryotes (two Gram-negatives and one Gram-positive), four yeasts, two filamentous fungi and two higher eukaryotic cell systems -- mammalian and plant cells. Throughout, the book provides valuable practical and theoretical information on the criteria and schemes for selecting the appropriate expression platform, the possibility and practicality of a universal expression vector, and on comparative industrial-scale fermentation, with the production of a recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine chosen as an industrial example. With a foreword by Herbert P. Schweizer, Colorado State University, USA: "As a whole, this book is a valuable and overdue resource for a varied audience. It is a practical guide for academic and industrial researchers who are confronted with the design of the most suitable expression platform for their favorite protein for technical or pharmaceutical purposes. In addition, the book is also a valuable study resource for professors and students in the fields of applied biology and biotechnology."

The second edition explains the principles of recombinant DNA technology as well as other important techniques such as DNA sequencing, the polymerase chain reaction, and the production of monclonal antibodies.

Recombinant Protein Expression, Part B, Volume 660 in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Multiplexed analysis protein: Protein interactions of polypeptides translated in Leishmania cell-free system, MultiBac system and its applications, performance and recent, Production of antibodies in Shuffle, Designing hybrid-promoter architectures by engineering cis-acting DNA sites to enhance transcription in yeast, Designing hybrid-promoter architectures by engineering cis-acting DNA sites to deregulate transcription in yeast, Antibody or protein-based vaccine production in plants, Cell-free protein synthesis, Plant-based expression of biologic drugs, and much more. Additional sections cover the Use of native mass spectrometry to guide detergent-based rescue of non-native oligomerization by recombinant proteins, Advancing overexpression and purification of recombinant proteins by pilot optimization through tandem affinity-buffer exchange chromatography online with native mass spectrometry, Method for High-Efficiency Fed-batch cultures of recombinant Escherichia coli, Method to transfer Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) shake flask experiments to the ambr® 250, and Expression of recombinant antibodies in Leishmania tarentolae. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology serial - Updated release includes the latest information on Recombinant Protein Expression