kanF

kanF is a protein found in the bacterium Escherichia coli. It is a component of the KAN-R antibiotic resistance cassette, which is a common tool used in molecular biology for gene selection. The kanF gene itself encodes a protein that confers resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin.

The KAN-R cassette is frequently inserted into plasmids or bacterial genomes to identify and isolate cells that have successfully taken up foreign DNA. When bacteria are exposed to kanamycin, only those containing the KAN-R cassette, and therefore expressing the kanF protein, will survive and grow. This makes kanF an essential element in genetic engineering techniques that rely on antibiotic selection.

The protein produced by kanF acts as a phosphotransferase, meaning it adds a phosphate group to kanamycin. This modification inactivates the antibiotic, preventing it from binding to its target in the bacterial ribosome and thereby blocking protein synthesis. Without functional ribosomes, the bacteria cannot survive.

Researchers utilize the kanF gene and its associated resistance cassette in a variety of applications, including cloning, gene knockout experiments, and the development of genetically modified organisms. Its widespread use stems from the effectiveness of kanamycin as a selective agent and the robust nature of the kanF gene.