Microbial Surface-Display
Mommy- are microbes smooth like a beach ball
or rough like a tennis ball?
Karen M. Polizzi
Cells are surrounded by a membrane made of lipids and proteins, which separates the cytoplasm from the environment. Some proteins naturally move to the membrane, decorating the cell's surface.
Microbial surface display involves fusing a chosen protein to these membrane proteins, so it extends into the environment. This technique is valuable in biotechnology for creating protein therapeutics, enhancing enzymes, and developing diagnostic tests.
Surface display is beneficial because it allows easier assessment of protein activity, speeding up the identification of the best variants. This accelerates biotechnology projects, contributing to health and environmental solutions, and supporting sustainable development goals.