SNAP display - an in vitro method for the selection of protein binders

Display technologies are powerful tools that are widely used for selecting protein binders against different targets by mimicking natural selection. Such in vitro display methods have been pivotal in the isolation and evolution of antibodies with affinities greater than those produced by the natural immune response. Here we describe SNAP display, which covalently links genotype with phenotype by the action of the SNAP-tag in an emulsion microdroplet. Successful model selections suggest that SNAP display, has potential as a robust display platform suitable for selecting protein binders. A multivalent format of SNAP display using dendrimer-like DNA has also been established to probe avidity effects in multivalent protein display selections. This review describes the principles of SNAP display and extrapolates its scope for in vitro selections.