IC-Tagging system: from protein tracking to therapeutic applications

Abstract

This doctoral thesis exploits the unique features of the IC-tagging system, a molecular tagging methodology developed in our laboratory. This system is credited with several biotechnological applications, such us the immobilization of enzymes or the production of large amounts of particulate material. Hence, the aim of this thesis is to grow the list of applications of the system, increasing its value in the field of biotechnology. In the first chapter, we create an autofluorescent biosensor to detect protein retro-translocation in-vitro. This sensor is capable of detecting slight changes in the amount of retro-translocatied substrates, thus improving the efficiency of existing sensors. In the second chapter we determine the immune response elicited by IC-tagging produced nano and micro-spheres designed as cancer vaccine candidates. And, in the third chapter, we stablish a protocol for a novel vaccine production method against enveloped viruses, using SARS-CoV-2 as a model. With this three applications, the applicability of the IC-Tagging system for in the biotechnological field is highlighted.