THE EFFECT OF CELLULAR ENERGETICS ON FOREIGN PROTEIN-PRODUCTION

Escherichia coli strain F-122 was used to determine if there are addit ional physiological effects, other than decreasing energetic efficienc y accompanied by the excretion of the acetate, on foreign protein prod uction. This organism was the host for expressing HIV582-beta-galactos idase fusion protein under the control of the trp promoter, with ampic illin resistance. By comparing parallel batch cultures with in the med ia did not influence beta-galactosidase activity. In these experiments , it appears that the low protein productivity often observed during a cetate formation is the result of inefficient cell metabolism, rather than acetate acting as a specific inhibitor of protein production.