Implementing a Hybrid Expression Method That Allows Upper-Division Biochemistry Lab Students To Engage in a Full Protein Production Experience While Allowing Ample Time for Characterization Experiments.

Protein structure, function, and signaling are a large portion of biochemistry. Because of this, proteins are often used as model systems in biochemistry laboratory courses, where a course-long project might comprise protein expression, purification, and characterization. Two common protein expression methods are isopropyl ß-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction, which utilizes easy-to-make media but requires extensive cell-growth monitoring that is time-intensive, and autoinduction, which employs multicomponent media that are time-consuming to make but require no cell-growth monitoring. A protein expression method that is a hybrid of IPTG induction and autoinduction is presented. The hybrid method utilizes the medium of IPTG induction and the no-cell-growth-monitoring induction process of autoinduction, saving hands-on time in the protein expression phase to allow more time for protein characterization while still having students execute each step.

Improved Synthesis of 2-Trifluoromethyl-10-aminopropylphenothiazine: Making 2-Trifluoromethyl-10-aminopropylphenothiazine Readily Available for Calmodulin Purification.

An improved and high yielding three-step synthesis for the production of 2-trifluoromethyl-10-aminopropylphenothiazine (TAPP) using less hazardous and more inexpensive reagents, its coupling to Sepharose-4B resin, and its ability to purify calmodulin are described. The overall yield of TAPP, starting with 3-aminopropyl bromide hydrobromide and 2-(trifluoromethyl)phenothiazine, was 96%.