Protein engineering is a method of changing a protein sequence to achieve a desired result, such as a change in the substrate specificity or increased stability to the temperature, organic solvents, and/or extremes of pH or selectivity in catalytic reactions. Principles of Protein Engineering provides researchers the necessary fundamental knowledge about the protein engineering field and the rationale behind the techniques.
Written by two experts with significant first-hand experience in the field, the work provides insight on protein synthesis, expression, structure elucidation, bioinformatics, directed evolution, stability, screening, and rational design. To aid in reader comprehension, the text is enhanced by short comments, feedback and personal anecdotes from pioneers and leaders in the field. Sample ideas covered in the work include:
- The fundamental knowledge of protein synthesis and expression
- Basic knowledge about alignment, homology modelling, dynamics of structure, and modeling enzyme kinetics
- The main protein engineering strategies, with a focus on directed evolution and rational design
- Differences between screening and selection, plus the main techniques for high-throughput screening
Biochemists, biotechnologists, molecular biologists, and students in related programs of study can use Principles of Protein Engineering to attain both holistic and specific insight into the field of protein engineering and its numerous applications.
Table of Contents
Introduction and Retrospect to Protein EngineeringPART I. Fundamentals of Proteins and Protein Expression
Introduction to Proteins and Protein Conformation
Protein Expression and the Selection of the Optimal Host
Protein Structure Determination
PART II. Bioinformatic Tools for Guiding Protein Engineering
Sequence Databases
Protein Modelling
Enzyme Kinetics
PART III. Protein Engineering Approaches/Strategies
Introduction to Protein Engineering
Selecting Strategy According to the Goal of the Engineering Project
Directed Evolution/Random Mutagenesis
Rational and Computational Design
Engineering Protein Stability
De Novo Design of Novel Enzymes
PART IV. Screening Mutant Libraries with High-Throughput Methods
Screening versus Selection
Auxotrophy
Development of Plate Assays for Colony Screening
Photometric /
Fluorometric Assays
Different Compartmental Approaches