Site-directed mutagenesis refinement

In molecular pharmacology research an indirect proof of a structural model is possible by functional examinations, e.g., by molecular biological experiments. Well-selected site directed mutagenesis and their functional characterization allows confirmation or rejection of a molecular protein model. The process is organized as an iterative procedure, where the biological answer of suggested mutations is used to refine the model. The iteration continues until the model... 

In the absence of crystallographic or NMR data, predictive techniques based on protein primary sequences can be used to elaborate crude 3D models. Such models will suggest that certain amino acid residues are involved in forming the active (receptor) site. The assignment of structural or functional roles to particular residues can be tested by site-directed mutagenesis, and the model can be further refined by consideration of SAR among ligands. 

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