ou are a newresearch scientist working for Fluorotek a start-up biotechnology companylocatedin El Cajon, CA (900 Rancho Echinoderm Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019).Having just completed your Ph.D. in biochemistry from UCSD, you are now an expert in expression and purification of novel proteins.  About 6 months ago, a Fluorotek research team discovered a new species of starfish in the south Pacific. This starfish produces a green fluorescent protein (GFP) that is concentrated in the skin. Since this GFP is from a species classified in a different Phylum than the original GFP isolated by Tsien, there is hope that this protein may have properties that will give it advantages over the original GFP(see the Bio Techniques article The Quest for New Fluorescent Proteins).  Since the starfish was found,Fluorotekscientists have isolated the gene for production of the protein and have inserted itinto a plasmid vector(pGLO)that shouldallow production of significant amounts of the protein for characterization. The company would like to file a patent on this molecule as soon as possible, and your work will be integral to that process. This protein has potential to be usedas a genetically encoded fluorescent label, similar to the proteins that have been isolated from jellyfish and corals. Time is of the essence, as a number of companies are working on similar projects, and without patent protection, the product will be of little value.

General Chemistry course (Please bid 50 days)General Chemistry course (Please bid 50 days)