Chicken avidin and bacterial streptavidin are workhorses in biotechnology. We have used avidin as a scaffold protein to develop avidin variants with novel ligand-binding affinity, so-called antidins. This article covers the strategy applied in the development of antidins. Using a phage display developed for avidin, immobilized ligands were used to select binders from a phage pool displaying avidin variants with randomized sequence in the protein loops. Antidins binding various ligands with nanomolar affinity were obtained. Antidins have already been demonstrated to be suitable for a diagnostic assay measuring serum progesterone levels and they offer a promising alternative to antibodies for the recognition of small molecules.
Keywords: Avidin; Biotin; Cholic acid; Folic acid; Phage display; Progesterone; Steroid; Streptavidin; Testosterone.
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