Expression level and solubility of untagged BirA. a Changes in BirA expression level as following by SDS-PAGE (12 %). Lane 1, BirA expressed by itself; Lane 2, BirA co-expressed with thioredoxin-scygonadin fusion; Lane 3, protein standards. b Analysis of BirA solubility when protein expression was induced at 37 °C (lane 1–3) and 18 °C (lane 4–6). The untagged BirA was expressed by itself without any substrate. Lanes 1 and 4, whole cell lysate; Lanes 2 and 5, cell lysate supernatant; Lanes 3 and 6, cell lysate pellet (resuspended in 8 M urea); Lane 7, protein standards