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Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
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Functional proteins from a random-sequence library.

A D Keefe1, J W Szostak

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.

Nature
|April 5, 2001
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers explored the origin of functional proteins from random sequences using mRNA display. They discovered four new ATP-binding proteins, suggesting functional proteins arise frequently in random sequences.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Protein Engineering

Background:

  • The origin of functional proteins from random sequences is a key question in understanding early life.
  • Previous studies have not determined the frequency of functional proteins in large random sequence libraries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the occurrence rate of functional proteins within a large library of random sequences.
  • To identify novel ATP-binding proteins through in vitro selection.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized messenger RNA (mRNA) display technology for in vitro selection.
  • Screened a library of 6 x 10^12 random 80-amino acid proteins for ATP-binding capability.

Main Results:

  • Identified four distinct, novel ATP-binding proteins.
  • These proteins are unrelated to each other and to known protein databases.
  • The frequency of functional proteins in random protein libraries is comparable to that in RNA libraries.

Conclusions:

  • Functional proteins can readily emerge from random amino acid sequences.
  • mRNA display is an effective method for discovering novel protein functions.
  • The study provides insights into the potential for de novo protein evolution.