Synthesis of a symmetrical propeller protein with potential biotech applications

Investigating the structure of protein subunits and how they join together to form larger multi-unit proteins such as β-propellers can yield important insights into the evolution and activities of these proteins. It could also guide the design of new protein structures for use in biotechnology applications. Researchers at RIKEN and Yokohama City University have used a computational technique to deconstruct and re-engineer a family of proteins known as β-propellers.