Protein engineering is a key tool for research at the Bio-Nanosystems Research Laboratory, where we develop proteins with a variety of beneficial properties. These include self-assembling flagellin proteins, which can be modified to construct target-specific binding variants and stable nanorods with thousands of surface binding sites, which are ideal for applications such as biosensors. In a similar way, proteins with enzymatic activity or building e.g. fluorescent labelling structures can be created and combined in any desired way. Using protein engineering, we also design proteins that can be efficiently used in high-throughput diagnostic procedures, e.g. for specific enrichment of extremely low concentrations of components in complex biological fluids or enzymatic conversion of samples for analysis.
The development of proteins for a variety of applications is based on two approaches: rational design by modifying proteins of known structure, and ribosome display-based directed evolution. Both approaches use recombinant DNA technology tools to manipulate the protein-encoding gene at the DNA level and produce the protein in cell-free or bacterial (E. coli or Salmonella-based) systems.
The research infrastructure includes
- the equipment needed for sterile work and cell culture (e.g. laminar boxes, autoclave, incubators, ultra-low temperature freezer),
- equipment for DNA manipulation (PCR, centrifuges, electrophoresis apparatus, thermoblocks),
- equipment for protein production (sonicators, centrifuges, ultracentrifuges, electrophoresis apparatus, preparative liquid chromatographs with columns) and
- instruments for DNA and protein analysis (spectrophotometer, Nanodrop, gel documentation system, fluorimeter, CD spectroscope, isothermal titration calorimeters).
The infrastructure is operated by highly qualified staff with specialised knowledge and valuable experience in the fields listed.
The equipment and expertise available are also suitable for antibacterial activity testing for various purposes.
