High performance research tools for cell and protein isolation
Our proprietary Strep-tag® technology exploits one of the strongest non-covalent interactions in nature: the interaction of biotin and streptavidin. The system is based on the highly selective and easily controllable interaction between the synthetic Strep-tag®II peptide and the specially engineered streptavidin, called Strep-Tactin®, which is one of the most stable proteins known. The Strep-tag®II binds specifically to the engineered streptavidins, Strep-Tactin® and Strep-Tactin®XT, by occupying the binding pocket of the natural ligand biotin. Hence, the interaction is easily reversible by excessive addition of the competitor.
Two affinity tags – two streptavidin derivatives: The Strep-tag®II consists of eight amino acids (Trp-Ser-His-Pro-Gln-Phe-Glu-Lys), whereas the Twin-Strep-tag® includes this motif two times in series connected by a linker and is accordingly composed of 28 amino acids. Both exhibit intrinsic, although unequal, affinity towards the streptavidin derivative Strep-Tactin® and its successor Strep-Tactin®XT: The binding affinity of Strep-tag®II to Strep-Tactin® (1µM) is nearly 100 times higher than to streptavidin. A further improvement was achieved by the development of Strep-Tactin®XT, which shares a nM affinity with the Strep-tag®II and a pM affinity with the Twin-Strep-tag®.
As a result of the differences in binding strength among the possible tag-ligand combinations, the Strep-tag® system has become established as a universal tool for isolation of proteins, cells, and exosomes.
- Fused to recombinant proteins, the Strep-tag®II or Twin-Strep-tag® enable efficient one-step purification on immobilized Strep-Tactin® or Strep-Tactin®XT.
- When fused to antibody-derived Fab fragments or nanobodies, Twin-Strep-tag® binds to multimerized Strep-Tactin® allowing capturing and releasing of target cells and exosomes based on their surface-marker or antigen-specificity.
- Strep-Tactin® (or Strep-Tactin®XT), on its turn, can be conjugated to microplates, fluorophores or chips, allowing a wide range of analytical applications after isolation of target material, such as detection, immobilization and interaction studies.
Key features of the Strep-tag® system are:
- Reversibility
- Full functionality of target material after isolation
- High purities
- Universal applicability for various analytic applications
- Simple purification procedures
Strep-tag® workflows - Short introduction
Strep-tag® protein purification procedure
Strep-tag® cell and exosome isolation procedure
