The site-specific recombinases FLP and Cre are useful for genomic engi
neering in many living systems. Manipulation of their enzymatic proper
ties offers a means to improve their applicability in different host o
rganisms. We chose to manipulate the thermolabilty of FLP recombinase.
A lacZ-based recombination assay in Escherichia coli was used for sel
ection in a protein evolution strategy that relied on error-prone PCR
and DNA shuffling. Improved FLP recombinases were identified through c
ycles of increasing stringency imposed by both raising temperature and
reducing protein expression, combined with repetitive cycles of scree
ning at the same stringency to enrich for clones with improved fitness
. An eighth generation clone (termed FLPe) showed improved properties
in E. coli, in vitro, in human 293- and mouse ES-cells.