Validation of whey powder as an inducer for recombinant protein expression from E.coli using GFP as a reporter protein
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2026
Yazarlar: Seyhan İçier, Fatma Fındık, Mehmet Yekta GÖKSUNGUR, Burcu KAPLAN TÜRKÖZ
Türk Doğa ve Fen Dergisi, Uluslararası, 2026, cilt 15, ss 58-66
Özet
Whey is a valuable by-product obtained from the dairy industry. Recently studies focus on utilization of whey as both inducer and carbon source in recombinant protein production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency and minimum concentration of lactose present in sweet whey powder as inducer of recombinant green fluorescent protein produced from Escherichia coli. The potential of whey was evaluated based on optical density, cell biomass, electrophoresis analysis, fluorescence, protein purity and results were compared with those obtained from IPTG. The highest fluorescence values were obtained with 20 mM lactose equivalent of deproteinized whey powder. Use of 2 mM lactose containing deproteinized whey powder was sufficient to produce recombinant GFP at comparable amounts to 0.5 mM IPTG. Validation of whey powder as an inducer will eliminate the toxicity and economic problems associated with high amount of IPTG usage. Furthermore, this strategy provides an alternative solution for the environmental pollution problems caused by whey.