ABSTRACT
Protein engineering developed in the 80’s with the construction of proteins modifi ed by site directed mutagenesis, studying catalytic mechanisms and the relationship between structure and function (Brannigan and Wilkinson 2002). With the advances in molecular genetics and, in particular, the techniques of gene manipulation, there are now conditions to change the macromolecular structures allowing the manipulation of target functions (Fan et al. 2009). Thus, great interest has been aroused in bioengineers to fi t proteins to various medical and industrial applications (Arnold 1996). These studies are meant to understand and subsequently direct the improvement process of the biological activities.
