Our Biochemistry: Molecular Genetics class has partnered with the Immunology class to investigate the expression of JacoRen57’s gene 50.
The bacteriophage JacoRen57 – found in Sioux Center, Iowa (accession: MK279840). JacoRen57’s genome has sequenced by Pittsburg SEA-PHAGES Institute and fully annotated by Northwestern College students in 2018. A region between gene 49 and 50 caught our attention as there is a large gap between these genes. Almail et al., investigated if this is a transcription regulatory region for genes 49 and/or 50 (2021). This work demonstrated the region has a regulatory function in the direction of gene 50. Based on comparison genomics, gene 50 is a putative RecA-like recombinase (Almail et al., 2019). This protein has several functions including guiding the recombination of DNA within a gene. RecA-like recombinase allows the virus to evolve into new variants which can improve infection and replication. This is crucial for creating diversity in the genome and DNA repair mechanisms (Galletto and Kowalczykowski, 2007).
To continue examination of gene 50 expression, we are working towards developing antibodies for this protein. To do this, the first step is to create an expression construct (Figure 1), express the protein in bacteria, purify the protein, and then use the purified protein to inoculate mice. This poster describes the construction of the expression vector. This work will provide valuable insight into the expression of gene 50, the RecA-like recombinase
