Strategies for bacterial expression of protein-peptide complexes: Application to solubilization of papillomavirus E6

► Papillomavirus E6 proteins are prone to self-association at low concentrations. ► BPV E6 interacts with high-affinity with an LXXLL containing peptide. ► This interaction 'protects' E6 from self-association. ► We explore strategies for the expression and purification of E6/peptide complexes. ► Resulting samples are highly concentrated and suitable for structural studies.