An Efficient Random Mutagenesis Technique Using an E. coli Mutator Strain

Site-directed mutagenesis has become an extremely powerful means by which the nature and function of critical amino acids within a protein can be assessed and altered. However, the ability to exploit this technique requires that detailed structural information about the protein (or related proteins) is available. For many gene products of interest, this information does not yet exist. In addition, variants that have particular qualities can be missed if one relies solely on the introduction of specific predetermined mutations.