An example of protein engineering is the development of modified insulin.
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 to combine protein elements. This type of engineering allows the development of materials with specific qualities 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 design new protein structures. Rational design is based on a comprehensive understanding of how an existing protein is built. Directed evolution, by contrast, uses random protein changes and can be carried out without knowing all the details of a protein’s structure.
Each approach to protein engineering has advantages and disadvantages. Rational design allows scientists to change the structure of a protein in a predictable way and is a relatively inexpensive process. This technique requires experts to have a detailed structural design of each protein being modified, which is not always available.
The directed evolution method of protein engineering uses trial and error and does not require a complete structural 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 structures created are suitable for use. Despite the cost, directed evolution often allows researchers to find combinations of valuable protein structures that might not otherwise be discovered.
Protein engineering allows scientists to create unique materials that do not exist in nature. The researchers used this type of engineering to combine the fluorescent protein from a jellyfish with another protein from human cells, for example. The resulting substance creates a green glow and can be traced as it interacts with living cells. This provides valuable information about how proteins work in the human body and helps researchers create new drugs and procedures.
Another example of protein engineering is the development of modified insulin. Scientists combined different protein structures to create fast-acting and slow-acting insulin substances. Both of these man-made variations are valuable for people with insulin disorders such as diabetes.
The new proteins are also useful in industrial applications. Manufacturing facilities, 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 every field.