| abstract |
A directed evolution process comprising novel methods for generating improved progeny molecules having desirable properties, including, for example, a method for rapid and facilitated production from a parental polynucleotide template, of a set of mutagenized progeny polynucleotides wherein at least one codon encoding each of the 20 naturally encoded amino acids is represented at each original codon position. This method, termed site-saturation mutagenesis, or simply saturation mutagenesis, is preferably based on the use of the degenerate N,N,G/T sequence. Also, a method of producing from a parental polypeptide template, a set of mutagenized progeny polypeptides wherein each of the 20 naturally encoded amino acids is represented at each original amino acid position. Also, other mutagenization processes that can be used in combination with, or in lieu of, saturation mutagenesis, including, for example: (a) assembly and/or reassembly of polynucloetide building blocks (including sections of genes &/or of gene families) mediated by a source of exonuclease activity such as exonuclease III; and (b) introduction of two or more related polynucleotides into a suitable host cell such that a hybrid polynucleotide is generated by recombination and reductive reassortment. Also molecular property screening methods, including a preferred method, termed end selection, comprised of using an enzyme, such as a topoisomerase, a restriction endonuclease, &/or a nicking enzyme (such as N. BstNB I), to detect a specific terminal sequence in a working polynucleotide, to produce a ligatable end thereat, and to ligate and clone the working polynucleotide. |