Effects of overexpressing folding modulators on the in vivo folding of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coli

Interest continues to increase in the use of folding modulators to overcome problems with heterologous protein folding in Escherichia coli. Currently, this approach, though highly successful with a number of individual proteins, remains a somewhat hit-and-miss affair. Ongoing research directed at unraveling the precise role and specificity of these folding modulators should generate a clearer understanding of the potential and limitations of overexpressing folding catalysts in vivo. This will facilitate the development, in the not too distant future, of a more structured and rational approach to improving the folding of heterologous gene products in E. coli.