Patent ID: 7838629

Claim:
A conjugate comprising the following components: one or more polypeptide molecules (I), wherein each polypeptide molecule (I) is a modified mammalian ubiquitin and has a binding property for specific binding to a ligand which is newly generated or altered as compared to the corresponding wildtype mammalian ubiquitin, wherein said binding property which is newly generated or altered compared to wildtype mammalian ubiquitin is based on one or more amino acid substitutions in a surface exposed region of a β sheet of the polypeptide molecule (I), and wherein the one or more amino acid substitutions are of one or more amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of residues corresponding to residues 2, 4, 6, 62, 63, 64, 65, and 66 of the wildtype mammalian ubiquitin, and, covalently linked thereto, one or more functional component (II) selected from the group consisting of polypeptides and proteins, organic and inorganic polymers, nucleic acids, lipids, sugars, low molecular weight substances, and peptides as well as derivatives of these substances, wherein after coupling of (I) to (II) the functionality of all components is retained.