title: Synthetic fusion protein design and applications.
abstract: Synthetic fusion proteins can be designed to achieve improved properties or new functionality by synergistically incorporating multiple proteins into one complex. The fusion of two or more protein domains enhances bioactivities or generates novel functional combinations with a wide range of biotechnological and (bio)pharmaceutical applications. In this review, initially, we summarize the commonly used approaches for constructing fusion proteins. For each approach, the design strategy and desired properties are elaborated with examples of recent studies in the areas of biocatalysts, protein switches and bio-therapeutics. Subsequently, the progress in structural prediction of fusion proteins is presented, which can potentially facilitate the structure-based systematic design of fusion proteins toward identifying the best combinations of fusion partners. Finally, the current challenges and future directions in this field are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Synthetic Biology Research Consortium, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 20 Biopolis Way, #06-01, Singapore 138668, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chengcheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Gee
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Synthetic Biology Research Consortium, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore; Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 20 Biopolis Way, #06-01, Singapore 138668, Singapore. Electronic address: cheld@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Dong-Yup
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
keywords: Domain insertion; Fusion protein; Linker design; Protein therapeutics; Synthetic protein engineering