Inteins are proteins that possess both endonuclease and self-splicing activity, allowing self excision and insertion at both the level of the gene and of the protein. Wood and coworkers (p. 889) have used a combination of rational design and an elegant genetic screen in Escherichia coli to engineer a mini-intein that lacks endonuclease activity, and is fine-tuned for use as a tool for recombinant protein purification.
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Frederickson, R. Rationalizing a random approach. Nat Biotechnol 17, 840 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/12810
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/12810