US Patent 7338797 Compositions for isolating a cDNA encoding a membrane-bound protein

A method, vector, and kit are provided for selectively isolating genes encoding membrane-bound proteins by fusing proteins to a secretable protein having a binding affinity to an antigen (e.g., an antibody), expressing these fusions in host cells, and selectively isolating individual host cells by their ability to bind the antigen via the fusion protein. Host cells expressing fusion proteins that do not contain a membrane binding domain will be relatively unable to bind the antigen, since the fusion proteins in those cells are secreted and unattached to their host cells. The method, vector, and kit disclosed herein are particularly useful for identifying genes for membrane-bound proteins represented in cDNA libraries.