Recombinant Prochlorococcus marinus Translation initiation factor IF-2 (infB), partial
Description
Recombinant Expression and Partial Constructs
Recombinant IF-2 fragments are typically generated by cloning specific regions of the infB gene into expression vectors. For example:
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Fusion Proteins: In E. coli, fusing the N-terminal region of infB to lacZ confirmed distinct initiation sites for IF-2α and IF-2β . A similar approach could isolate partial IF-2 domains in P. marinus.
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Functional Assays: In vitro dipeptide synthesis systems using cloned infB DNA demonstrated IF-2’s role in initiating fMet-tRNA binding .
Ecological and Genomic Context
Prochlorococcus marinus strains exhibit genomic adaptations linked to light, nutrient availability, and viral interactions . While IF-2 is not explicitly studied in these contexts, its role in cellular metabolism suggests:
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Light Adaptation: High-light-adapted strains (e.g., MED4) may prioritize rapid protein synthesis, requiring efficient IF-2 activity .
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Viral Hijacking: Phages infecting P. marinus alter host metabolic pathways, potentially targeting translation factors like IF-2 to redirect resources .
Strain-Specific Genomic Variations
Research Gaps and Future Directions
Product Specs
Target Background
KEGG: pmb:A9601_16981
STRING: 146891.A9601_16981
