What is maltose binding protein?

Maltose binding protein (MBP) is a bacterial protein that is commonly used as a fusion partner in protein expression and purification. It is derived from the E. coli maltose operon and has a high affinity for maltose and related sugars.

MBP is used in protein expression systems to increase the solubility of recombinant proteins and aid in their purification. By fusing the target protein to MBP, researchers can take advantage of its stable structure and solubility-enhancing properties.

MBP is commonly used in affinity chromatography for protein purification. Maltose or maltose analogs are immobilized on a column, and the fusion protein can be selectively eluted by adding free maltose to the column.

In addition to its role in protein purification, MBP is also used as a molecular tool for various applications such as protein crystallization, protein-protein interaction studies, and as a reporter tag in protein localization studies.

Overall, maltose binding protein is a versatile tool in molecular biology and biochemistry, facilitating the production and purification of recombinant proteins for various research purposes.