Training system for investigations of bioengineered proteins

Medicilon is a leading provider of comprehensive, high quality recombinant protein and bioprocess services. We offer a variety of recombinant protein expression platforms along with a host of other protein services like chemical protein synthesis, protein refolding and structural biology services.Email:marketing@medicilon.com.cn Web:www.medicilon.com

Education and training in the procedures and materials for cell growth and protein expression are provided by an integrated system of modules, each fully equipped with reagents, for the entire span of procedures beginning with cell plating and inoculation and extending through protein expression, growth, purification, and assay, plus an instruction manual that sets forth all of the procedures, and in certain cases an assessment module. The system is supplied with bacterial cells already transformed for expression of proteins that are selected for their known expression procedures and properties, and is adaptable to any known protein.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention lies in the field of laboratory procedures for protein expression and purification.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Biological processes, cellular function and growth, and protein expression, including the expression and use of recombinant or bioengineered proteins, are procedures that are practiced extensively in biotechnology laboratories and in academia. Nevertheless, individuals entering industry or gaining employment in biotechnology laboratories often arrive at their new jobs with little or no hands-on experience, and consequently lack the “best practice” skills and practical equipment training that they need to be fully productive at their work. There is therefore a need for a training and educational system that allows the inexperienced practitioner to learn and practice standard laboratory procedures by performing them on biological materials whose response to and behavior under these procedures is well established.

The present invention provides a system and method for education and training in the core processes of protein expression, purification, and assay. The system of the invention can be formulated as a series of modules that collectively represent the various stages in the expression, purification, and assay of a known protein, each stage containing a full set of reagents, media, and other disposable components, as well as an instruction manual with directions for performing standard procedures for each stage, and in certain embodiments, an assessment module for evaluating the users' understanding of the processes taught. Certain stages are represented by two or more alternative modules, offering the instructor and the trainee a choice among different means of performing those stages. Certain stages can also be sold or purchased independently of the system as a whole, for purposes of replenishing a supply for a particular stage, offering the instructor or trainee a choice at the point of use, or adapting the system to smaller or larger numbers of trainees. Each of these variations is made possible by the modular nature of the system, wherein the various modules are separable and recombinable, replaceable, and reusable.