OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of linking operons in tandem to enhance expression of heterologous genes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and clarify the potential control mechanism of the total plasmid DNA amount in each host cell. METHODS: Two series of expression plasmids, CW11 and CW12, containing 1 to 4 and 1 to 3 heterologous gene operon(s) respectively, were constructed. The molecular size of the CW11 series varied from 5.47 kb to 12.26 kb in 2.25 kb increments. The CW12 series varied from 5.40 kb to 9.72 kb in 2.16 kb increments. The expression level of desired protein was assayed by SDS-PAGE and laser density scanning. Plasmid copy number was determined by incorporation with (3)H-thymidine ((3)H-TdR). RESULTS: No influence of the tandem-joined operons on host growth and plasmid stability was observed. Upon induction, the desired protein accumulations in the CW11 series were 44.9% +/- 3.9%, 51.3% +/- 4.1%, 54.8% +/- 3.3% and 58.2% +/- 3.4% of total cell protein. In the CW12 series, the yields were 32.2% +/- 5.0%, 42.8% +/- 4.1% and 46.9% +/- 4.0% of total cell protein. As size increased, the plasmid copy number decreased, but target gene dosage increased significantly (P 0.05) and restricted to some extent. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the target gene dosage by tandem linking of operons may enhance the expression level of a desired protein. Although the size (kb) and the copy number of each plasmid are negatively interrelated, for certain plasmids in each series, their total DNA amount per cell seems to be a restricted constant for specific E. coli strains under identical incubation condition.
