Non-Immunoglobulin Scaffolds as Research Tools for Protein Structure and Function Analysis

Abstract

Non-immunoglobulin (non-Ig) scaffolds are a class of small, synthetic non-antibody binding proteins. The field of scaffold engineering has rapidly advanced considering the advantages these scaffolds have over antibodies, including, but not limited to, smaller size, heightened thermal stability, and cheaper cost of production. To date, over 100 new synthetic scaffolds have been designed largely for biochemical intervention with pharmaceuticals and other medical therapies. Simultaneously, in recent history, these same scaffolds have been used as protein research tools as a result of their high affinity and specificity to target molecules. These characteristics have allowed non-Ig scaffolds to become key instruments in crystallization, binding resins and assays, and imaging technologies, among others.