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Updated: Dec 26, 2025
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Structural Studies of Macromolecules in Solution using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering
Published on: November 5, 2018
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Monobodies as enabling tools for structural and mechanistic biology
Oliver Hantschel1, Matthew Biancalana2, Shohei Koide3
1Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany; Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|March 8, 2020
Summary
Monobodies are synthetic proteins that aid in crystallizing difficult molecules and acting as therapeutic agents. Recent studies highlight their structural insights, mechanisms, and drug-like potential.
Area of Science:
- Protein Engineering
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Monobodies are engineered proteins based on the fibronectin type III domain scaffold.
- They are known for their high affinity binding to functional sites and lack of disulfide bonds.
- Their properties make them suitable for intracellular applications and as drug-like molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in monobody-enabled research.
- To explore novel structures, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic applications.
- To analyze the structural attributes that contribute to monobodies' effectiveness as crystallization chaperones.
Main Methods:
- Systematic analysis of crystal structures of monobody-target complexes.
- Review of recent literature on monobody applications.
- Investigation of monobody properties for intracellular use and therapeutic potential.
Main Results:
- Monobodies facilitate the crystallization of challenging molecular systems.
- They reveal new insights into molecular mechanisms and biological functions.
- Structural analysis identifies key attributes for their role as crystallization chaperones.
Conclusions:
- Monobodies are versatile tools in structural biology and drug discovery.
- Their unique properties offer significant potential for therapeutic development.
- Understanding their structural basis enhances their application as crystallization aids.
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