1. Supercharging enables organized assembly of synthetic biomolecules
- Author
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Andrew D. Ellington, Jens Glaser, Jillian Gerberich, Anna J. Simon, David W. Taylor, Jimmy Golihar, Cheulhee Jung, Vyas Ramasubramani, Sharon C. Glotzer, Arti Pothukuchy, Barrett R. Morrow, and Janelle C. Leggere
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_classification ,Chemistry ,Biomolecule ,Model system ,02 engineering and technology ,Protomer ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,Order (biology) ,Electrostatic attraction ,Chemical physics ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
There are few methods for the assembly of defined protein oligomers and higher order structures that could serve as novel biomaterials. Using fluorescent proteins as a model system, we have engineered novel oligomerization states by combining oppositely supercharged variants. A well-defined, highly symmetrical 16-mer (two stacked, circular octamers) can be formed from alternating charged proteins; higher order structures then form in a hierarchical fashion from this discrete protomer. During SUpercharged PRotein Assembly (SuPrA), electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged variants drives interaction, while shape and patchy physicochemical interactions lead to spatial organization along specific interfaces, ultimately resulting in protein assemblies never before seen in nature.
- Published
- 2018
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