Stabilizing Proteins by Intein-Mediated Backbone Cyclization

Stabilizing Proteins by Intein-Mediated Backbone Cyclization 

Limited protein stability often hampers successful structure elucidation by X-ray crystallography and/or NMR spectroscopy. Relaxation properties are usually improved at elevated temperatures, and multidimensional NMR experiments require sample lifetimes to extend over several days to weeks in order to acquire all the necessary data. In addition, the activity of contaminating proteases that are sometimes present in purified samples can be significant at the experimental temperatures. Therefore, the stability of a target protein can be a concern, in particular for expensive isotope-labeled proteins. 

There have been many attempts to improve protein stability and protein properties, utilizing methods such as random mutagenesis, directed evolution, and rational protein design approaches. In general, these methods are far from straightforward and can be time-consuming. In addition, the stabilization of proteins without loss of function is not a trivial problem. 

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