Expert: Sridhar Acharya Malkaram - 5/18/2007

Question
Why do researchers need more than one type of vector to produce recombinant DNA? What is the advantage of a yeast (eukaryotic) vector compared to a bacterial (prokaryotic) vector?

Answer
I can only give a basic non-extensive reply for this query.

rDNA technology has advanced a lot that we can expression of foreign gene, using a combination of steps and using different vectors.
The choice of number of steps depends on the specific task.

Many a times, it not just simply cutting a portion of DNA and inserting in a plasmid and reintroducing it into expression host.

Some times, two vectors are used one for multipliction and other for expression.

Sometimes, sequential use of two or more vectors is needed to get the transgene in the right orientation for expression.

Yeast vectors are advantageous specifically for expressing eukaryotic genes. Since yeast being itself a eukaryote, has its own post-translational modification mechanisms that are essential for eukaryotic genes.