mRNA Display for Peptide and Protein Engineering

A round cycle representation of mRNA display cycle. A double line representing a double stranded DNA library is located at the top. An arrow with "transcription" over it then points to a single line representing the transcribed mRNA library. An arrow with "ligation" over it then points to a single line that leads to a curve with a "P" in a circle, representing the ligated mRNA library, where the mRNA library is ligated to puromycin by a polyA chain. An arrow with "translation" over it then points to a new structure that now includes several red circles attached to the puromycin, representing the fused translated peptide chain. This full structure represents the fusion library. An arrow with "selection" then points to the fusion library structure next to a structure with a circle, indicating a bead, that is connected to a box, indicating the immobilized target. This combination represents the fusion library binding to the immobilized target. A arrow with "RT-PCR" then returns to the original double stranded DNA library representation, indicating the restart of the cycle.

Research in the Roberts Lab involves engineering new peptides and proteins for biology, diagnosis, and therapy using mRNA display, invented by Richard Roberts. This method enables us to generate trillion-member libraries for in vitro selection and directed evolution experiments to discover ligands targeting proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. We are grateful for the Financial Support provided by federal agencies, corporations, private foundations, and charitable giving.

Our laboratory is joint between the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences. Prof. Roberts holds appointments in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, the Department of Chemistry, and the Department of Molecular and Computational Biology and is a full member of the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Prof. Roberts also directs the USC Center for Peptide and Protein Engineering.