There is described a method of isolating nucleotide sequences encoding
target peptides from DNA libraries using DNA binding proteins to link the
peptide to the sequence which encodes it. DNA libraries are prepared from
cells encoding the protein of interest, or from synthetic DNA, and
inserted into, or adjacent to, a DNA binding protein in an expression
vector to create a chimeric fusion protein. Incorporation of the vector
DNA into a carrier package, during expression of the chimeric fusion
protein, results in the production of a peptide display carrier package
(PDCP) displaying the DNA-bound fusion protein on the external surface of
the carrier package. Employment of affinity purification techniques
results in the PDCP particles containing sequences encoding the desired
peptide to be selected and the desired nucleotide sequences obtained
therefrom.