HYPER EXPRESSION OF AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SYNTHETIC-POLYMER GENE

Biodegradable polymers offer an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based polymers. Applications of protein based polymers include the use of these compounds in the fields of medicine, molecular-based energy conversions, the manufacture of unique fibers, coatings and biodegradable plastics. We report here expression of a synthetic gene G-(VPGVG)(119)-VPGV coding for the EG-120mer (elastomer) in E. coli. Polymer expression is observed in uninduced cells grown in terrific broth in polyacrylamide gels negatively stained with CuCL(2). Electron micrographs reveal formation of inclusion bodies in uninduced cells occupying upto 80-90% of the cell volume under optimal growth conditions. To the best of our knowledge this report represents the first demonstration of hyper expression of a synthetic gene (with no natural analog) in E. coli.