Generating functional mutant proteins to create highly bioactive anticancer biopharmaceuticals

Abstract: In recent years, bioactive proteins, i.e. cytokines and antibodies, have received attention because of their therapeutic potential. Indeed, attempts are being made to develop a wide variety of therapeutic proteins to treat diseases including cancer, hepatitis, and autoimmune conditions. Beyond producing recombinant versions of natural proteins, the next major step in protein therapeutics is the redesign of proteins to increase their clinical potential. As an example, we have created functional artificial proteins using the technique of phage display. This system has the potential to provide new biopharmaceuticals with novel functional properties that could provide significant clinical benefits. In this chapter, we describe a technology to create functional mutant proteins for advanced medical applications, using tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) as a model protein.