HUH-tag

HUH reaction

HUH-tag

The HUH-tag is a short amino acid sequence that is recognized and cleaved by specific endonucleases known as HUH endonucleases. These endonucleases are named after the conserved histidine (H) and hydrophobic (U) residues in their active sites. The HUH-tag system is widely used in molecular biology and biotechnology for various applications, including protein purification, protein labeling, and site-specific recombination.

Structure and Function

The HUH-tag typically consists of a sequence of 6-12 amino acids that include the conserved histidine and hydrophobic residues. The tag is recognized by HUH endonucleases, which cleave the DNA or RNA at specific sites adjacent to the tag. This cleavage allows for precise manipulation of nucleic acids and proteins in various experimental settings.

Applications

Protein Purification

The HUH-tag can be used to purify proteins by attaching the tag to the protein of interest and then using HUH endonucleases to cleave the tag, allowing for the isolation of the target protein. This method is advantageous because it provides a high degree of specificity and can be used under mild conditions that preserve protein function.

Protein Labeling

In protein labeling, the HUH-tag can be used to attach fluorescent or other types of labels to proteins. This is useful in fluorescence microscopy and other imaging techniques where the visualization of specific proteins within cells or tissues is required.

Site-Specific Recombination

The HUH-tag system is also employed in site-specific recombination techniques, where it facilitates the precise insertion or deletion of genetic material. This is particularly useful in genetic engineering and gene therapy applications.

Related Techniques

The HUH-tag system is related to other tagging and cleavage systems such as the His-tag, FLAG-tag, and Strep-tag. Each of these systems has its own advantages and specific applications in molecular biology and biotechnology.

See Also

• His-tag
• FLAG-tag
• Strep-tag
• Protein purification
• Site-specific recombination
• Fluorescence microscopy
• Genetic engineering
• Gene therapy

External Links

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