Discovery Biology Services
Protein Expression and Purification

There are four gene engineering expression systems in Viva, including escherichia coli expression system, baculovirus expression system, protein expression with suspension mammalian cells and yeast expression system. Through a complete protein expression system, we can provide customers with efficient protein expression and purification services for the study of protein structure and function.

Service Content
  1. Plasmid Construction

    Viva Biotech provides customized gene cloning services, including codon optimization, gene synthesis (outsourced) and subsequent cloning. After you provide a gene template, send a target vector and cloning demand, or provide a protein sequence and nucleic acid sequence, we will provide existing or customized services according to the specific specifications required. In addition, we can provide one-stop service for high yield protein expression, purification and production.

     

    · Subclone service

    · Site directed mutagenesis cloning service

    · Missing, insert mutant cloning service

    · Plasmid extraction (Plasmid Endofree Miniprep, Midiprep, Maxiprep, Megaprep, Gigaprep)

    · Plasmid endotoxin removal and determination service

  2. High Yield Protein Expression

    Escherichia coli expression

    · Large vector and strain collection, specific M9/labeled M9 media

    · The constructed plasmid can be transformed into a variety of commercial strains (such as BL21(DE3), BL21 (DE3) Gold, BL21 (DE3) CodonPlus RIPL, and Rosetta)

    · Inducible expression at different temperatures (16℃- 37℃) can be performed

    · Different culture mediums (LB, TB, 2xYT, M9) can be selected

    · Different induction methods (IPTG induction, arabinose induction, autoinduction) can be selected

    · Coexpression chaperone can be selected to improve soluble expression

    · High throughput expression test based on 96 well plate (which can test the expression differencesof different strains and different constructs)

    · Expression of isotope labeled proteins (including 15N labeling, 15N13C double labeling, 15N2Hdouble labeling, 15N13C2H triple labeling, and 13C-Me ILV selective labeling based on 15N2Hdouble labeling)

     

    Baculovirus expression system

    · Different vectors/cell lines, membrane protein/protein complexes generation

    · Generationand amplification of Baculovirus

    · Baculovirus systems: Bac-to-Bac system; Bacmam system; Linearized co-transfection systems such as pVL1392, ProEASY, BD BaculoGold system, pTriEX …

    · Optimization of expression: cell lines, infection time, infection ratio (MOI), expression temperature…

    · Capacity of large-scale expression:>1000 L/month

    · Capacity of construct numbers: >200/month

    · Preparation, preservation and optimization expression of BIIC (Baculovirus Infected Insect Cell)

    · Insect cell transient experiment (InsectSelect BSD System)

     

    Protein expression with suspension mammalian cells

    · Transient transfection expression and BacMam infection expression services in a varietyof suspension cell lines including Expi293F, ExpiCHOS, Freestyle 293F, and Expi293F™ GnTI-cell

    · Cell culture service with suspension mammalian cell including transient transfection, viral infection, and large-scale expression with stablecell line culture up to 400 L/month

    · Stable cell line generation for protein expression

     

    Yeast expression system

    · Production of secreted, intracellular and membrane-bound proteins

    · Capacity: >1,000L/year

  3. Protein Purification

    · Inclusion body purification

    Inclusion body/Insoluble protein is expressed, washed followed by denatured and dissolved, and then purified and refolded (or purified after refolding) to obtain soluble protein

     

    · Secretory protein purification

    The signal peptide is used to guide the expression of secretory protein outside the cell, and the cell supernatant (culture medium) is collected directly for purification

     

    · Common modifications involved in purification

    Biotinylation (in vivo or in vitro), phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, deglycosylation

     

    · Enzyme digestions involved in purification

    TEV, Ulp1, PreScission (or 3C), Thrombin, and Ek

     

    · Other technologies involved in purification

    Crosslinking, Nanodisc, and Fibrillization

  4. Protein Production

    · Production of soluble protein

    · Production of renaturation protein

    · Production of secretory protein

    · Membrane protein assembly

Technology Platform
Frequently Asked Questions for Protein Expression & Production
What expression systems does Viva Biotech offer, and how do I choose the right one?

We support E. coli, baculovirus/insect cell (Sf9/Hi5/Sf21/S2), and mammalian (HEK293/CHO transient and stable) platforms, as well as Pichia pastoris for select targets. In general, selection depends on the target class:

 

  • E. coli (1–2 weeks)
  • Baculovirus/insect cells (3–4 weeks, including virus generation)
  • Mammalian HEK293/CHO (2 – 3 weeks)
  • Pichia (5 – 6 weeks, including transformant screening)

 

We routinely advise on system choice based on target biology, downstream application (crystallography vs. cryo-EM vs. SPR vs. in vivo), and timeline.

 

Protein Type Recommended System
Cytosolic proteins (Small) E. coli
Cytosolic proteins (Large) Insect/Mammalian
Enzymes E. coli /Insect
Kinases E. coli/Insect
GPCRs Insect/Mammalian
Antibodies Mammalian
Secreted proteins Mammalian
Membrane proteins Insect/Mammalian
Multi-protein complexes Insect/Mammalian
What if my target is historically difficult to express (membrane proteins, GPCRs, intrinsically disordered regions, multi-protein complexes)?

Viva Biotech has extensive experience working with challenging protein targets, including insoluble proteins, secreted proteins, membrane proteins, and protein complexes. To maximize the chances of success, we leverage multiple expression platforms—including E. coli, baculovirus-insect cells, mammalian cells, and yeast—and tailor purification strategies based on each protein's characteristics.

 

Strategies include fusion partner screening, truncation/domain-boundary optimization, insertions, nanobody or antibody fragment co-complexing to improve stability (e.g., for cryo-EM), lipid nanodisc/detergent screening for membrane proteins, and iterative small-scale expression trials before committing to large-scale production.

How does proprietary membrane protein expression technology support drug discovery?

Viva Biotech’s proprietary membrane protein expression technology enables the successful production of challenging targets such as GPCRs and ion channels. Our platform combines optimized expression hosts, stabilizing fusion partners and mutations, detergent/nanodisc reconstitution, and conformation-locking strategies (e.g., nanobody co-complexing) to generate homogeneous, functionally active protein. This directly enables downstream applications — high-quality structure determination, SPR and other biophysical assays.

 

We have a membrane protein library covering 120+ GPCRs, 80+ transporters, and 50+ channels.

Can the expressed protein be used directly for crystallography or Cryo-EM at Viva Biotech?

Yes. Viva Biotech provides a fully integrated one-stop platform covering every stage from gene to preclinical candidate — protein expression and purification, structure determination (X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM), hit identification, lead optimization, bioassay, and DMPK, all under one roof.

 

One of our key advantages is that protein expression and structural biology operate as a fully integrated workflow under one roof. Proteins produced by our expression team are optimized from the outset for downstream structural applications — including X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and biophysical assays such as SPR and ASMS — eliminating handoff delays and ensuring sample quality is maintained throughout, which shortens overall timelines and minimizes the risks.

Can you assess protein activity/function, not just purity?

Yes. We recommend defining a functional QC criterion at project kickoff so "success" is unambiguous before structural or screening work begins.

 

Depending on the target, Viva Biotech can offer services, including enzymatic activity assays, ligand-binding assays (SPR, ITC, fluorescence polarization), or nucleotide-loading state verification (e.g., GDP/GTPγS state for GTPases).

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Protein Expression and Purification”, please contact our team.

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