- Research Tools
- John D. Hewes
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have developed an improved insect cell line, Tni-FNL, derived from the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni. The Tni-FNL cell line is capable of high level expression of heterologous proteins using baculovirus-based expression systems. When compared to commercially available cell lines used for the same purpose, the Tni-FNL cell line often outperforms those for protein expression. These cells have a high growth rate and are capable of growth at a lower temperature. The complete genome sequence of the Tni-FNL cell line has been determined, opening the door to systems biology approaches to further improve the protein expression capabilities of the cell line.
- Research tool for production of protein
- Target organism for advanced systems biology approaches to improve protein production
- In side-by-side comparisons with other insect cell lines, this cell line outperforms for protein production for several different proteins tested
- Cell line has a highly robust growth rate, including at lower temperatures
- Cell line genome sequence was determined to a coverage and accuracy far exceeding any other lepidopteran cell line or host organism
Dominic Esposito, Ralph Hopkins, Veronica Roberts
- Prototype
Gillette WK, et al. Farnesylated and methylated KRAS4b: high yield production of protein suitable for biophysical studies of prenylated protein-lipid interactions. (PMID: 26522388) [PMID: 26522388]
- Research Material: NIH will not pursue patent prosecution for this technology
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