The Uab Research Foundation

Bioelastics Research, Ltd.

David T McPherson

Dan W Urry

Jie Xu

Henry Daniell

A method for overexpressing a bioelastic polypeptide in a host cell is provided. A nucleic acid encoding a bioelastic polypeptide having pentapeptide, tetrapeptide, hexapeptide or nonapeptide repeating units is introduced into a host cell. The host cell is grown under conditions that provide for expression of the polypeptide as at least 40% of the total cellular protein of the host cell.

Hyperexpression of bioelastic polypeptides

A method for purifying an artificial polymer that exhibits a reversible inverse temperature transition is provided. The method involves (a) dissolving the polymer in an aqueous medium so that the temperature of the medium is below the effective transition temperature; (b) adjusting the temperature of the aqueous medium relative to the effective transition temperature of the polymer; (c) removing any particulate material from the medium; (d) adjusting the temperature of the aqueous medium relative to the effective transition temperature of the polymer so that the temperature of the medium is above the effective transition temperature; (e) collecting the polymer from the medium as a more dense phase; and (f) optionally repeating any of steps (a)-(e) until a desired level or purity is reached; with the proviso the order of steps can be (a)-(d)-(e)-(a)-(b)-(c).

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Birmingham, AL, United States of America

David T McPherson