DARPin

DARPin‏‎ (Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein) is a type of protein that has been engineered for use in biotechnology and medicine. These proteins are characterized by their small size, high stability, and the ability to bind to a wide range of targets with high affinity and specificity.

History

The concept of DARPin‏‎ was first introduced by the group of Andreas Plückthun at the University of Zurich in the late 1990s. The idea was to create a new class of binding proteins that could be used as alternatives to antibodies in various applications.

Structure

DARPin‏‎s are composed of a series of Ankyrin repeats, a common motif in natural proteins. Each repeat consists of approximately 33 amino acids and forms a helix-loop-helix structure. The number of repeats in a DARPin‏‎ can be varied to adjust its binding properties.

Applications

DARPin‏‎s have been used in a variety of applications in biotechnology and medicine. They have been used as research tools, in diagnostics, and as therapeutics. For example, they have been used to inhibit the activity of certain enzymes, to target specific cells for immunotherapy, and to deliver drugs to specific locations in the body.

Advantages

Compared to antibodies, DARPin‏‎s offer several advantages. They are smaller, which allows them to penetrate tissues more effectively. They are more stable, which makes them easier to produce and store. And they can be engineered to bind to a wide range of targets with high affinity and specificity.

See also

• Protein engineering
• Biotechnology
• Medicine