Expression vectors for streptavidin-containing chimeric proteins.

We have constructed expression vectors for streptavidin-containing chimeric proteins. These vectors carry the DNA sequence corresponding to the core region of the streptavidin molecule, and have several unique cloning sites which facilitate construction of gene fusions of streptavidin with a target protein. A chimeric protein of streptavidin and the target protein should be expressible in Escherichia coli by using the T7 expression system. Because of the strong and specific biotin-binding affinity of the streptavidin moiety, such streptavidin-containing chimeric proteins should extensively expand the applications of the streptavidin-biotin system, and offer a variety of applications as new biological tools.