An artificial protein that may block malignant properties of cancer cells as well as correct certain birth defects has been developed by a research team. The team started with a natural G protein, removed some parts and changed some others to create a new protein that binds very tightly to a family of G protein activators while losing the ability to bind to any other known partner. Using this approach they created a protein that specifically inhibits a family of G protein activators without affecting any other component of the cellular machinery.
