NExT - Technology Molecular Engineering

Optimised Protein Functionality

Engineered Proteins by Knowledge Based Gene Design

The term implies purposely incorporating certain desired properties into a DNA (and subsequently a protein molecule) using knowledge about the role of defined structural and functional elements. The (correct) function of a biomolecule, especially proteins, can often be pinpointed to individual building blocks, e.g. amino acids. Synthetic genes allow you to easily go from computer-generated modified DNA sequences to their physical incarnation. The following are only a few of the possible features that can be designed into a customized artificial gene:

• the addition of epitope tags facilitates affinity purification or enables specific interaction with antibodies or other histochemical reagents.
• chimeric genes from originally unrelated sequences allow for the expression of novel fusion proteins having distinct functional domains, e.g. different DNA binding domains that are combined with various effector binding domains.
• gene elements can be used as templates for in vitro transcription to produce large amounts of specific RNA molecules.
• DNA motifs that prolong a nucleic acid's (mRNA) or protein's biological half-life by making it more resistant to cleavage by degrading enzymes or by preventing proper ubiquitinylation.

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