In an attempt to change the function of proteins, scientists have discovered how to create a family of thousands of mutated versions of a protein.
This task was accomplished by changing the structure of versions of the protein cytochrome P450.
Proteins
Any of a group of complex organic macromolecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and usually sulfur and are composed of one or more chains of amino acids. Proteins are fundamental components of all living cells and include many substances, such as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies, that are necessary for the proper functioning of an organism.
of this family are responsible for controlling a number of cell reactions.
The researchers were able to create a set of over 6,000 new genes, which were expressed in bacteria. They discovered that in some of the
bacteria
Any of the unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms of the class Schizomycetes, which vary in terms of morphology, oxygen and nutritional requirements, and motility, and may be free-living, saprophytic, or pathogenic in plants or animals.
with mutated proteins their resistance to heat degradation increased.
Image: The creation of an artificial family of thousands of new proteins by shuffling protein building blocks allows us to probe protein structure This is the definition of the term 'structure' blah blah blah, it goes in thise area right here and function, free from the filtering effects of natural selection. (Photo: R. Robinson, PLoS Biol)