ROLE OF RECOMBINANT PLASMID IN GENE EXPRESSION STUDY” A REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Recombinant plasmids have become foundational tools in modern molecular biology due to their versatility in gene manipulation and expression studies. These engineered circular DNA molecules are capable of carrying specific genes and regulatory sequences, allowing researchers to study gene function across diverse biological systems. Their widespread use in prokaryotic and eukaryotic models has significantly advanced synthetic biology, therapeutic protein production, and genome engineering.

Objective: This review aims to explore the structural design, functional versatility, and experimental applications of recombinant plasmids in gene expression studies, highlighting recent innovations that have enhanced their utility and specificity.

Methods: A comprehensive literature analysis was conducted on studies published within the last five years related to recombinant plasmid construction, vector design, and gene expression systems. Key vector elements including promoters (constitutive and inducible), enhancers, polyadenylation signals, terminators, and selection markers were reviewed for their roles in modulating transcription and translation. The integration of reporter systems such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) and luciferase for real-time visualization and quantification was also examined. Additionally, advancements in CRISPR/Cas9-compatible plasmid backbones were evaluated for their effectiveness in precision genome editing.

Results: Studies demonstrated that over 85% of plasmid-based systems employed inducible promoters to fine-tune gene expression. Reporter gene usage was prevalent in over 70% of functional assays, with GFP being the most utilized. CRISPR-ready plasmids contributed to approximately 60% of recent genome editing experiments, highlighting a growing shift toward modular, high-precision vector designs. The use of synthetic plasmids in constructing gene circuits and metabolic pathways was shown to improve biosynthetic yields by 40–65% across different microbial hosts.

Conclusion: Recombinant plasmids continue to serve as indispensable platforms for gene expression and regulation studies. Their evolving design and integration into genome editing workflows support broad applications in therapeutic research, functional genomics, and synthetic biology.