Vectors for the inducible overexpression of glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins in yeast.

A rapid and convenient method of protein purification involves creating a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST) (Smith and Johnson, Gene 67, 31-40, 1988). In this report, we describe two vectors for the conditional expression of GST fusions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The parent plasmid is based on a high-copy, galactose-inducible shuttle vector previously described (Baldari et al., EMBO J. 6, 229-243, 1987). We have demonstrated the use of this system by creating fusions between GST and the yeast RAS2 gene. GST-Ras2 fusion proteins undergo the post-translational modifications required for Ras2p to become membrane localized. These vectors provide a useful system for the expression and purification of eukaryotic proteins requiring post-translational modification.