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Protein engineering creates new proteins with specific characteristics. Rational design and directed evolution are two approaches. Rational design is predictable but requires detailed structural knowledge, while directed evolution is trial and error but can discover valuable combinations. Protein engineering has applications in medicine and industry.
Protein engineering is a method that can be used to develop new types of proteins. This field of science is relatively new, and researchers continue to study and discover original ways of combining protein elements. This type of engineering makes it possible to develop materials with specific strengths or characteristics.
Rational design and directed evolution are the two basic approaches to protein engineering. Some researchers prefer one approach over the other, however both methods can be used to engineer new protein structures. Rational design is based on a comprehensive understanding of how an existing protein is constructed. Directed evolution, in contrast, uses random protein changes and can be performed without knowing every detail of a protein’s structure.
Each protein engineering approach has both advantages and disadvantages. Rational design allows scientists to change the structure of a protein in predictable ways and is a relatively inexpensive process. This technique requires experts to have a detailed structural design of each modified protein, which is not always available.
The directed evolution method of protein engineering uses trial and error and does not need a complete structure map. This method is often time-consuming and expensive, due to the requirement that each new protein combination must be tested and only some of the created structures are suitable for use. Despite the cost, directed evolution often allows researchers to encounter valuable combinations of protein structures that might otherwise have gone undiscovered.
Protein engineering allows scientists to create unique materials not found in nature. Researchers have used this type of engineering to combine a jellyfish’s fluorescent protein with another protein from human cells, for example. The resulting substance creates a green glow and can be monitored as it interacts with living cells. This provides valuable insights into how proteins work in the human body and assists researchers in creating new drugs and procedures.
Another example of protein engineering is the development of modified insulin. Scientists have combined different protein structures to create both fast-acting and slow-acting insulin substances. Both of these man-made variations are invaluable to individuals with insulin disorders, such as diabetes.
Novel proteins are also useful in industrial applications. Manufacturing plants, for example, may use engineered proteins that are resistant to specific chemicals. Experts can combine the structures of strong proteins to create new ultra-strong substances. In the future, protein design could be an important part of almost any field.
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