Protein expression and production of recombinant proteins routinely encounters problems, including formation of inclusion bodies, incorrect protein conformation, toxicity to the host cell, and low protein yield. These issues are most often addressed by using an alternative host or genetically fusing the protein of interest (POI) to a carrier protein (fusion tag).  Attachment of the C-terminus of SUMO (Small Ubiquitin Like Modifier) to the N-terminus of a protein of interest can dramatically improve protein solubility, achieve native protein folding, and increase total yield by improving expression and decreasing degradation. LifeSensors protein expression system has pioneered SUMO fusion technology, which increases the quantity and quality of numerous recombinant proteins in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression hosts. We offer a protein expression service related to the expression and purification of proteins.

Our SUMO-tag expression system maximizes the yield of soluble, functional proteins in E. coli. SUMO functions as both a chaperonin and initiator of protein folding, improving the solubility and yield of your POI. De-sumoylases remove the SUMO tags, releasing your protein with the desired N-terminal amino acid. Both SUMO tags and de-sumoylases contain 6xHis tags allowing efficient subsequent removal, leaving pure protein.

The SUMOPro system is designed for expression and purification of proteins from E. coli. Since all eukaryotic cells contain SUMO and SUMO proteases, the latter of which will cleave SUMO-fusion proteins immediately following expression, LifeSensors has engineered SUMOstar, a SUMO tag for use in eukaryotic hosts, which is resistant to endogenous proteases, thus preserving enhanced expression, increased solubility and native folding.  SUMOstar fusion proteins can be cleaved only with SUMOstar protease.

Associated Services

Bacterial

The SUMOpro tag system is based off our SUMO protein expression platform to maximize the yield of soluble and functional proteins with a native N-terminus. Precise tag removal relies on LifeSensors’ highly specific SUMO proteases, which recognize the tertiary structure of the tag at the N-terminus of the partner protein and cleaves the junction at discrete residues outside the protein sequence.

SUMOPro Mammalian

The SUMOpro tag system was developed from SUMO to maximize the yield of soluble and functional proteins with a native N-terminus. We can extend the benefits of our SUMOpro tag to mammalian hosts, increasing the expression and solubility of your protein while ensuring proper post-translational modifications (PTMs) within the cell.

Advanced Therapeutic Applications

Clinical-scale production of functional biotherapeutics such as proteins used in CAR-T therapy and vaccine candidates routinely faces challenges of expression quantity, misfolding, incorrect localization, degradation in the host cell, and HIGH costs. However, clinical-scale production remains critical for successful therapeutic outcomes. To overcome these challenges, we developed the SUMOstar™ tag.

SUMOStar Mammalian

The SUMOstar™ tag, a modified version of the SUMOpro tag that extends the benefits of SUMO to mammalian hosts. Like SUMOpro, it increases the expression and solubility of your protein of interest while allowing proper post-translational modifications (PTMs) within the cells.