Question

How is the copy number of the plasmid vector related to yield of recombinant protein?

Answer 1

Copy number:

Number of copies of plasmid present in the host cell is called the copy number.

Relation between copy number of the plasmid vector and yield of recombinant protein:

Higher the copy number of plasmid vectors, higher the number of times it replicates within the recombinant host cell which in turn implies higher the number of copies of the gene of interest in the host cell. Consequently, a high number of copies of the gene of interest will express a higher quantity of the desired protein which would result in high yield.