Title - Preface - Contents - List of authors

Abstract

In 1982 Winter, Fersht and co-workers published their first report on the successful use of site directed mutagenesis in protein engineering. Since then protein design (a more rational variation of protein engineering) has been recognized as a promising and fascinating field of research in many countries. In Japan and the U.S.A. researchinstitutes have been founded to focus work on protein design. A growing number of other research institutes in the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe haveinitiated broad research projects on protein design. Prospects for the application of proteins with new, designed functions or structures are very high in areas as diverse as pharmacology, waste treatment, chemical synthesis, vaccine design, biosensors, in the food industry etc. This concept wasclearly outlined in an excellent article by Ulmer in 1983 who on this occasion coinedthe term ‘protein engineering’. Research projects in protein design require a closecollaboration between specialists in protein isolation and purification, in fermentation, in genetic engineering, protein crystallography and modelling. This interdisciplinary approach involving protein chemists, molecular biologists and structural chemists is essential for the completion of the protein design cycle which, starting from a known protein, involves gene cloning and expression, investigation of the properties and structure of the new protein and design of new variants. The present book evolved from a workshopheld at the GBF in Braunschweig in September 1988with the aim of bringing together a set of leading scientists and also some initiates, in order to exchange viewsand ideas in protein design with special emphasis on the following topics — Methods andtheoretical concepts — Protein design with (industrial) enzymes — Protein design with biological response modifiers, including antibodies and protease inhibitors. Thus the book reflects the individual blendof activities of the workshop participants, with no attempt to make a comprehensive review ofthis rapidly growing researchfield. Wethank the GBF administration, especially M. Kramer and B. Zimmermann, for their help in running the workshop. Our special thanks go to the speakers and chairpersons, and the contributorsto this book.