Genetic Engineering of Model Reflectin-based Protein Materials

Abstract

In an attempt toward improving our understanding of a functional unit that drives self-assembly of reflectin-based protein materials, a genetic engineering approach was applied for synthesis of a reflectin-based sequence of interest. A dimer, based on the reflectin 1a, domain 3 sequence, was constructed and cloned into an expression vector. Protein expression of the domain 3 (D3) dimer protein was carried out in a bacterial host and protein expression levels were evaluated with western blotting. Characterization of the D3 dimer protein is currently underway. Faculty Adviser: Holly E. Carpenter Desai