Miniproteins are compact protein scaffolds (typically < 80 amino acids) engineered or designed to adopt specific, stable folds for binding or catalysis.

Size

~3–10 kDa (30–90 aa)

Folding

Stable designed topologies (helix bundles, β-sheets)

Stability

High thermostability; protease resistant when well-packed

Production

Bacterial or cell-free expression; chemical synthesis

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Unique Features

Computational design enables shape-complementary interfaces with high affinity and specificity.
  • De novo scaffolds not constrained by natural antibody frameworks
  • High expression and straightforward manufacturing
  • Robustness for harsh assay and environmental conditions
Design accuracy and foldability depend on sequence-structure mapping; experimental validation is essential.

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Applications

Target-specific binding domains for therapeutics, diagnostics, and targeting.
Miniproteins bridge the gap between peptides and antibodies: small, stable, and engineerable with tailor-made interfaces.