Recombinant Globular Domain of TcpA Pilin from El Tor: Recovery from Inclusion Bodies and Structural Characterization.

The production of recombinant proteins in cells is often hampered by aggregation of newly synthesized proteins and formation of inclusion bodies. Here we propose the use of transverse urea gradient electrophoresis (TUGE) in testing the capability of folding of a recombinant protein from inclusion bodies dissolved in urea. A plasmid encoding the amino acid sequence 55-224 of TcpA pilin (C-terminal globular domain: TcpA-C) from El Tor enlarged by a His-tag on its N-terminus was expressed in cells.