Researchers enhance the function of natural proteins using 'protein Legos'

"It's protein Legos, essentially," said team leader Jamie Spangler, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and biomedical engineering. As far as the body is concerned, this newly created protein is as genuine as the one that occurs in nature." The synthetic protein, called Neo-4, mimics the function of the natural protein interleukin-4 (IL-4): a crucial player in immune system regulation. Jamie Spangler Assistant professor "It's protein Legos, essentially ... As far as the body is concerned, this newly created protein is as genuine as the one that occurs in nature." "These are computationally designed proteins that behave like proteins in nature but have better properties," Spangler said.