Biomedical Engineering Interdepartmental Degree Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Trends Cell Biol. 2012 Dec;22(12):653-61. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2012.08.004. Epub 2012 Sep 10.
In nature, many proteins have evolved to have self-complementary shapes. This drives them to assemble into supramolecular structures, sometimes of great complexity, and often carrying out sophisticated cellular functions. Designing novel proteins that can self-assemble into similarly complex structures is a longstanding goal in bioengineering. New ideas, combined with continually improving computer algorithms, are making it possible to advance on that goal, bringing wide-ranging applications in synthetic biology within reach. Prospective applications range from vaccine design to molecular delivery to bioactive materials. Recent strategies and examples of successfully designed protein cages, layers, and crystals are reviewed.
在自然界中，许多蛋白质已经进化到具有自互补形状。这促使它们组装成超分子结构，有时非常复杂，并且经常执行复杂的细胞功能。设计能够自组装成类似复杂结构的新型蛋白质是生物工程中的一个长期目标。新的想法，结合不断改进的计算机算法，使得朝着这个目标前进成为可能，为合成生物学中的广泛应用提供了可能。预期的应用范围从疫苗设计到分子传递到生物活性材料。本文综述了最近成功设计的蛋白质笼、层和晶体的策略和实例。
