Padilla J E, Colovos C, Yeates T O
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Feb 27;98(5):2217-21. doi: 10.1073/pnas.041614998. Epub 2001 Feb 20.
A general strategy is described for designing proteins that self assemble into large symmetrical nanomaterials, including molecular cages, filaments, layers, and porous materials. In this strategy, one molecule of protein A, which naturally forms a self-assembling oligomer, A(n), is fused rigidly to one molecule of protein B, which forms another self-assembling oligomer, B(m). The result is a fusion protein, A-B, which self assembles with other identical copies of itself into a designed nanohedral particle or material, (A-B)(p). The strategy is demonstrated through the design, production, and characterization of two fusion proteins: a 49-kDa protein designed to assemble into a cage approximately 15 nm across, and a 44-kDa protein designed to assemble into long filaments approximately 4 nm wide. The strategy opens a way to create a wide variety of potentially useful protein-based materials, some of which share similar features with natural biological assemblies.
本文描述了一种用于设计能自组装成大型对称纳米材料的蛋白质的通用策略，这些纳米材料包括分子笼、细丝、层状结构和多孔材料。在该策略中，一种天然形成自组装低聚物A(n)的蛋白质A分子与另一种形成自组装低聚物B(m)的蛋白质B分子刚性融合。结果得到一种融合蛋白A-B，它能与自身的其他相同拷贝自组装成设计好的纳米面体颗粒或材料(A-B)(p)。通过两种融合蛋白的设计、生产和表征验证了该策略：一种49 kDa的蛋白被设计成组装成直径约15 nm的笼子，另一种44 kDa的蛋白被设计成组装成长约4 nm宽的细丝。该策略为创造各种潜在有用的基于蛋白质的材料开辟了一条途径，其中一些材料与天然生物组装体具有相似的特征。
