Preparation of phytoplasma membrane recombinant proteins

The study of phytoplasma membrane protein interactions with host cell proteins is crucial to understand the life cycle of these unculturable microorganisms within their hosts. A step by step protocol for the heterologous expression of phytoplasma membrane proteins in Escherichia coli is described, together with a procedure to purify a suitable quantity of fusion antigen for successive application in the study of phytoplasma-host interactions.