The Caltech Protein Expression Center (PEC) was established in 1996 to serve as a core facility providing recombinant protein expression and purification for the Caltech community and external researchers. The PEC provides recombinant expression of proteins using mammalian cells (Expi293, ExpiPRO, 293-6E), E. coli, and baculovirus-infected insect cells.
We specialize in expressing secreted proteins, including antibodies and viral antigens, in the mammalian Expi293 transient expression system, but also have experience expressing proteins in E. coli, making recombinant baculoviruses, and using the Sf9 insect cell line.
The PEC provides additional capabilities beyond protein expression and purification that position us as a biotechnology center at Caltech. For example, we can create and select stably-expressing HEK293 and CHO cell lines for expression of large quantities of a protein, an approach that is widely used in biotech but is not generally trivial for academic labs. Using stable cell lines, we can offer Caltech and outside scientists the ability to produce large and consistent amounts of proteins, including those that are otherwise difficult-to-express. The PEC also has several liquid handling robots available to users, and we have developed a high-throughput expression and optimization platform using robotic multiwell plate-based cell dispensing and transfection methods. We continue to provide support in the experimental design and execution of biophysical and biochemical assays to measure protein-protein interactions, including via automated ELISAs on our Tecan Evo2 liquid handling system and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based measurements using Bruker SPR23 and Biacore T200 instruments. High-throughput protein-protein interactions can also be evaluated using the PEC’s Luminex instrument utilizing bead-based technology.
> For General Inquiries-- pec@caltech.edu