Structure-based protein engineering on potential therapeutic proteins

Abstract

Protein engineering has been an exploding field covering the area of protein therapeutics, chemical drugs, biofuels and industrial enzymes. Two main methods of protein engineering are known – directed evolution and structure-based approach. Directed evolution requires an extensive screening step through randomized mutagenesis while structure-based approach leads to more rational design of the drug by harnessing the knowledge of three dimensional structure of the target protein. The present dissertation presents the results of structure-based engineering on two potential therapeutic proteins (DPP4, $IFN\lambda4$) and in-depth discussion on the success and failure of the engineering.