pDisplay? is a mammalian expression vector designed to target recombinant proteins to the surface of mammalian cells. Displayed proteins can be analyzed for their ability to interact with known or putative ligands. Proteins of interest are targeted and anchored to the cell surface by cloning the gene of interest in frame with the vectors unique N-terminal secretion signal and the C-terminal transmembrane anchoring domain of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). In contrast to phage display vectors which operate exclusively in prokaryotic cells, the pDisplay? vector offers the advantage of having the displayed protein of interest processed in mammalian cells. Therefore, recombinant proteins of eukaryotic origin that are expressed from pDisplay? more closely resemble their native form. This may favor more accurate ligand binding interactions. In addition to the N-terminal cell surface targeting signal and C-terminal transmembrane anchoring domain, the pDisplay? vector contains the following key features:

? T7 promoter/priming site for in vitro transcription of sense RNA and for sequencing of inserts
? Neomycin resistance marker for stable selection in mammalian cells using Geneticin?
? SV40 origin for replication and simple vector rescue in cell lines expressing the large T antigen (e.g., COS-1 and COS-7)
? Ampicillin resistance gene for selection in E. coli