Hi Folks

I have quite a specific question for people with expertise in biochemistry and protein expression. I want to generate a streptavidin-luciferase fusion protein. I have checked the literature, and it appears to have been done before in many labs around the world. What is the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way I can get my hands on some of this fusion protein?.

Bear in mind, I am a biomed scientist working in a lab, but have no experience of transfection or protein purification as I am predominantly an electrophysiologist.

Many thanks, Cakeman

Hi Cakeman,

In instances like this, where you want something that's available in a few labs, but not on the market, I'd suggest the following, in this approximate order:

1. See if your supervisor has ever collaborated with anyone who may have some, or know where you can lay your hands on some.

2. Get in contact with someone at your own uni who may have experience in production of this.

3. Consider contacting one of the authors of papers in your field where this fusion protein has been used - perhaps if you have one author who more commonly crops up in your work, you could try this.

4. Consider alternatives. I've never used, or come across, streptavidin-luciferase fusion protein, but I presume you want to tag something biotinylated with luciferase? Are there alternatives? For example, HRP-streptavidin? If this is a stupid suggestion, I apologise!

I'm confused as to why no one makes this commercially available...

Matt

Thanks for the response there 4Matt

Not sure we have any active collaborations, or indeed inactive who have used this stuff. Might be worth asking around the university and seeing if anybody with the relevant experience is willing to help. I did manage to find a comercially available renilla luciferase fusion protein at a company called avidity or something like that, but unfortunately we need photinus pyralis luciferase......... the hunt goes on