Bacteria churn out a million potential protein drugs
Modified bacteria produce enormous library of macrocycles, one of which inhibits a HIV protein
With the help of a cyanobacterium enzyme that cyclises short protein strands, researchers have transformed Escherichia coli into tiny factories that produced one million different macrocyclic proteins – compounds that might be able to tackle diseases such as HIV. Most small molecule drugs inhibit proteins by binding to their active sites in a ‘lock and key’ fashion. However, two proteins can also interact through physical contact. These protein–protein interactions play a role in certain diseases but are tricky to stop with small drugs.