Lesson plan
Affitin
(blue and orange) kinking DNA (lilac), from Affitins (commercial name Nanofitins) are artificial proteins with the ability to selectively bind antigens. They are structurally derived from the DNA binding protein Sac7d, found in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a microorganism belonging to the archaeal domain. By randomizing the amino acids on the binding surface of Sac7d and subjecting the resulting protein library to rounds of ribosome display, the affinity can be directed towards various targets, such as peptides, proteins, viruses, and bacteria. Affitins are antibody mimetics and are being developed as an alternative to antibodies as tools in biotechnology. They have also been used as specific inhibitors for various enzymes. Affitins can be utilized in biochemical purification techniques, specifically in affinity chromatography. The ability of Affitins to selectively bind antigens is used to target specific proteins. Scientists have been able to purify human immunoglobulin G (hIgG), bacterial PulD protein, and chicken egg lysozyme using Affitin columns with a high degree of purity. These have the ability to act as specific ligands for the proteins of interest that are needed when the fusion of proteins to polypeptide tags is impossible or carries no advantage, and thus build affinity columns as is the case in the production of biopharmaceuticals.…
Article summary
(blue and orange) kinking DNA (lilac), from Affitins (commercial name Nanofitins) are artificial proteins with the ability to selectively bind antigens. They are structurally derived from the DNA binding protein Sac7d, found in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a microorganism belonging to the archaeal domain. By randomizing the amino acids on the binding surface of Sac7d and subjecting the resulting protein library to rounds of ribosome display, the affinity can be directed towards various targets, such as peptides, proteins, viruses, and bacteria. Affitins are antibody mimetics and are being developed as an alternative to antibodies as tools in biotechnology. They have also been used as specific inhibitors for various enzymes. Affitins can be utilized in biochemical purification techniques, specifically in affinity chromatography. The ability of Affitins to selectively bind antigens is used to target specific proteins. Scientists have been able to purify human immunoglobulin G (hIgG), bacterial PulD protein, and chicken egg lysozyme using Affitin columns with a high degree of purity. These have the ability to act as specific ligands for the proteins of interest that are needed when the fusion of proteins to polypeptide tags is impossible or carries no advantage, and thus build affinity columns as is the case in the production of biopharmaceuticals.…
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.