Baculovirus expression systems have many known advantages including fast and cost-effective methods to generate large amounts of recombinant proteins in comparison to bacterial expression systems, particularly those requiring complex post-translational modifications. Our services include:
- Developing an effective strategy for molecular cloning and expression.
- Custom or high throughput cloning into a range of baculovirus transfer vectors.
- Small-scale transient expression screening to determine optimal expression conditions.
- Large-scale transient expression in shake flasks and/or WAVE bioreactor.
The insect cell/baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is becoming increasingly popular to produce recombinant proteins. The system offers several advantages,including:
- Able to perform complex post-translational modifications (PTMs)
- High success rate of soluble protein recovery
- Suitable to produce large protein complexes
- High protein expression levels compared to other higher eukaryotes
The ability of insect cell/BEVS to generate proteins with complex PTMs, coupled with high expression levels, makes it particularly suitable to produce mammalian proteins.



Phase I
Transfection of sf9 insect cells
- Amplification/isolation of your gene of interest (GOI) and subcloning into a transfer vector with His-Tag or GST-tag.
- Sequence confirmation of insert.
- Transformation of baculoviral DNA transformed E. coli with the GOI to produce recombinant bacmid/GOI DNA.
Estimated time: 2-3 weeks
Price: $1,500
Phase II
- Small-scale culture of E. coli and extraction of recombinant bacmid (recombinant viral DNA).
- Transfection of sf9 insect cells with recombinant bacmid to produce recombinant baculovirus.
- Small scale culture to test the expression level and subsequent optimization, if necessary.
Note: Net yield, purity, and solubility not guaranteed.
Estimated time: 3-4 weeks
Price: $1,500
Phase III
Large Scale Transfection and Purification
- Virus stock preparation.
- Large scale culture and infection of sf9 insect cells for protein expression.
- Protein purification from 1 L of infected sf9 cells using affinity purification columns.
Estimated time: 3-4 weeks
Price: $2,000

Deliverables
- 5 μg of transfer vector
- Bacmid
- recombinant virus
- protein
- documentation
Yield ranges from 0.2– 50 mg/L of culture with average yield of 3 mg/L.