Baculovirus expression: tackling the complexity challenge

Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2013 Jun;23(3):357-64. doi: 10.1016/j.sbi.2013.03.009. Epub 2013 Apr 27.

Abstract

Most essential functions in eukaryotic cells are catalyzed by complex molecular machines built of many subunits. To fully understand their biological function in health and disease, it is imperative to study these machines in their entirety. The provision of many essential multiprotein complexes of higher eukaryotes including humans, can be a considerable challenge, as low abundance and heterogeneity often rule out their extraction from native source material. The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS), specifically tailored for multiprotein complex production, has proven itself to be uniquely suited for overcoming this impeding bottleneck. Here we highlight recent major achievements in multiprotein complex structure research that were catalyzed by this versatile recombinant complex expression tool.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome / biosynthesis
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome / genetics
  • Animals
  • Baculoviridae*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Insecta / cytology*
  • Insecta / metabolism*
  • Mediator Complex / biosynthesis
  • Mediator Complex / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / biosynthesis*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Mediator Complex
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome