Protein Expression Systems
ProteinsIntermediate
The choice of expression host determines glycosylation pattern, disulfide bond formation, yield, and cost. Selecting the wrong system can compromise protein function or downstream assay validity.
4
Expression hosts
9
Decision attributes
PTMs · Yield · Cost
Key decision axes
Recombinant protein production — selecting the right expression host
| Attribute | E. coli | HEK293 | CHO cells | Baculovirus (Sf9) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glycosylation | None | Human-like | Human-like | Insect-type |
| Disulfide bonds | Limited | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Post-translational mods | Minimal | Full mammalian | Full mammalian | Partial |
| Yield | ||||
| Production cost | Low | High | High | Moderate |
| Scale-up feasibility | ||||
| Endotoxin concern | Requires removal | None | None | None |
| Folding complexity | Simple / linear; inclusion body risk for complex targets | Multi-domain, secreted, and receptor proteins | Multi-domain proteins, glycoproteins, therapeutic proteins | Large / multi-subunit proteins, virus-like particles |
| Best for | Cytokines, enzymes, simple structural proteins, biochemical assays | Receptors, antibodies, glycoproteins requiring human PTMs | Therapeutic-grade, biomanufacturing, stable antibody production | Viral antigens, VLPs, multi-subunit complexes |
Functional assays / biochemistry
E. coli — cost-effective, high yield for non-glycosylated targets
Browse E. coli proteins →
Cell-based assays / signaling
HEK293 — human PTMs essential for receptor and ligand biology
Browse HEK293 proteins →
GMP / biotherapeutic use
CHO — industry standard for therapeutic protein manufacturing
Browse CHO proteins →
Vaccine / VLP antigens
Baculovirus — optimal for multi-subunit and viral antigen display
Browse viral antigens →
PTMs = post-translational modifications · VLP = virus-like particle.