FAQ: What is the SNAP-tag®?

SNAP-tag® is a highly engineered version of AGT (alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase), a DNA repair protein. It has been modified to make it smaller (20 kD), react faster with its benzyl guanine substrates and to remove its affinity for DNA. In mammalian cells, SNAP-tag® localizes to the cytoplasm and the nucleus.