An N-terminal Signal Peptide Increases Total Expression and Enhances Surface Trafficking of Olfactory Receptors

Unmet Need
The present invention is based on the discovery of an N-terminal tag sequence which aids in olfactory receptor trafficking. When expressed exogenously in mammalian cells, olfactory receptors (ORs) fail to traffic to the cell surface. This is a problem as receptor ligands cannot be assayed unless the receptor is present on the cell surface. Either alone or in combination with chaperone proteins, this novel tag allows all ORs assayed thus far to reach the cell surface.
 
Technology Overview
The invention provides nucleic acids/polynucleotide and amino acid/polypeptide sequences useful for improving/increasing protein expression on the cell surface. Specifically developed are nucleic acid sequences encoding the sequence tag and the protein as comprise part of an expression vector. The developed vector allows the insertion of sequences of interest for the expression of various proteins with the attached N-terminal sequence tag incorporated to pull the protein to the cell surface.
 
Stage of Development
Prototype
 
Publications
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0068758
 

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