Improved protein splicing using embedded split inteins. Author Josef Gramespacher, Adam Stevens, Robert Thompson, Tom Muir Publication Year 2018 Type Journal Article Abstract Naturally split inteins mediate a traceless protein ligation process known as protein trans-splicing (PTS). Although frequently used in protein engineering applications, the efficiency of PTS can be reduced by the tendency of some split intein fusion constructs to aggregate; a consequence of the fragmented nature of the split intein itself or the polypeptide to which it is fused (the extein). Here, we report a strategy to help address this liability. This involves embedding the split intein within a protein sequence designed to stabilize either the intein fragment itself or the appended extein. We expect this approach to increase the scope of PTS-based protein engineering efforts. Keywords Amino Acid Sequence, Proteins, Protein Engineering, Inteins, Protein Splicing Journal Protein Sci Volume 27 Issue 3 Pages 614-619 Date Published 2018 Mar ISSN Number 1469-896X DOI 10.1002/pro.3357 Alternate Journal Protein Sci PMCID PMC5818749 PMID 29226478 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML