A collaboration between University of Kent scientists and the Science and Technology Facilities Council-supported Central Laser Facility (CLF) has confirmed the versatility of Vesicle Nucleating Peptide (VNp) technology in protein production.
The VNp technology, which underpins the Kent spin-out company Sirius Proteins, aims to significantly increase the yield and simplify the process of recombinant protein production in bacteria. This development could make it easier and more affordable to produce complex proteins for use in early-stage research, drug development, diagnostics, food production, and environmental management.
Developed by Professor Dan Mulvihill and his lab, the technology addresses challenges in producing recombinant proteins, which can be unstable, toxic to bacterial cells, or require complex folding. It works by directing bacterial cells to package recombinant proteins into membrane-bound vesicles and export them, which increases production, simplifies purification, and improves stability.
Dr Streather noted that this is particularly useful for producing insoluble proteins, such as insulin, or proteins toxic to bacteria. The vesicles deliver these proteins intact outside the cell, potentially speeding up drug production and improving efficiency, which could help reduce medical supply blockages and make drugs cheaper in the long run.
Advanced imaging techniques used at the OCTOPUS Laser for Science Facility in Harwell, Oxfordshire, helped the team understand the structure and properties of the recombinant vesicles. Findings published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles suggest the technology is more versatile than initially thought, with VNp-engineered vesicles showing stronger composition and functionality compared to naturally occurring ones.