In an attempt to change the function of proteins, scientists have discovered how to create a family of thousands of mutated versions of a protein.

This task was accomplished by changing the structure of versions of the protein cytochrome P450. Proteins of this family are responsible for controlling a number of cell reactions.

The researchers were able to create a set of over 6,000 new genes, which were expressed in bacteria. They discovered that in some of the bacteria with mutated proteins their resistance to heat degradation increased.

Image: The creation of an artificial family of thousands of new proteins by shuffling protein building blocks allows us to probe protein structure and function, free from the filtering effects of natural selection. (Photo: R. Robinson, PLoS Biol)

Read about this story: A Smart Mutation Scheme Produces Hundreds of Functional Proteins (Robinson R (2006) PLoS Biol 4(5): e136)