THE BLIND WATCHMAKER AND RATIONAL PROTEIN ENGINEERING

In the present review some scientific areas of key importance for prot ein engineering are discussed, such as problems involved in deducting protein sequence from DNA sequence (due to posttranscriptional editing , splicing and posttranslational modifications), modelling of protein structures by homology, NMR of large proteins (including probing the m olecular surface with relaxation agents), simulation of protein struct ures by molecular dynamics and simulation of electrostatic effects in proteins (including pH-dependent effects). It is argued that all of th ese areas could be of key importance in most protein engineering proje cts, because they give access to increased and often unique informatio n. In the last part of the review some potential areas for future appl ications of protein engineering approaches are discussed, such as non- conventional media, de novo design and nanotechnology.