Australian scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking protein engineering tool poised to reshape therapeutic development. Dubbed PROTEUS (PROTein Evolution Using Selection), the platform allows researchers to evolve proteins within mammalian cells – a leap beyond conventional methods reliant on bacteria or yeast.
“Directed evolution typically occurs in organisms that don’t mirror human cellular complexity,” explained Dr. Daniel Hesselson of Sydney’s Centenary Institute, co-senior study author. “PROTEUS creates a biologically relevant environment, letting us engineer proteins that function as intended in the human body.”
Using virus-like particles to trigger mutations without damaging host cells, the platform enhanced a gene-regulating protein and evolved a nano-body targeting DNA damage – critical for cancer research – in initial trials published in Nature Communications.
Co-first author Alex Cole emphasized the innovation’s potential: “This opens avenues for therapies designed to work precisely where needed in human biology.”
Developed through a partnership between the Centenary Institute and University of Sydney, PROTEUS could accelerate breakthroughs in gene therapy, personalized medicine, and disease modeling, offering fresh opportunities for biotech investors and researchers alike.
