Discussions

With the development of science and technology, a lot of studies are being performed to bioengineer next-generation albumins to enhance the curative effects of albumin. The key point of the new technology is the manipulation of the FcRn and albumin complex, which required albumin variants that have longer and shorter half-lives than natural albumin. To this end, scientists have used a structure-based approach, supported by the analysis of site-specific mutants, to identify residues involved in the binding of albumin to FcRn. Results show that both FcRn and albumin domain III in this complex allow specific molecular interactions. The development of the FcRn-albumin complex may speed up the process of novel albumin variants with altered serum half-life as carriers of drugs.