Wei Jingjing, Xu Lianjie, Wu Wen-Hao, Sun Fei, Zhang Wen-Bin
College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, 455000 China.
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China.
Sci China Chem. 2022;65(3):486-496. doi: 10.1007/s11426-021-1183-x. Epub 2022 Jan 26.
Information-rich molecules provide opportunities for evolution. Genetically engineered materials are superior in that their properties are coded within genetic sequences and could be fine-tuned. In this review, we elaborate the concept of genetically engineered materials (GEMs) using examples ranging from engineered protein materials to engineered living materials. Protein-based materials are the materials of choice by nature. Recent progress in protein engineering has led to opportunities to tune their sequences for optimal material performance. Proteins also play a central role in living materials where they act in concert with other biological components as well as nonbiological cofactors, giving rise to living features. While the existing GEMs are often limited to those constructed by building blocks of biological origin, being genetically engineerable does not preclude nonbiologic or synthetic materials, the latter of which have yet to be fully explored.
信息丰富的分子为进化提供了机会。基因工程材料具有优势，因为其特性编码在基因序列中，并且可以进行微调。在本综述中，我们通过从工程蛋白质材料到工程活材料等实例阐述了基因工程材料（GEMs）的概念。基于蛋白质的材料是自然界的首选材料。蛋白质工程的最新进展带来了调整其序列以实现最佳材料性能的机会。蛋白质在活材料中也起着核心作用，它们与其他生物成分以及非生物辅助因子协同作用，从而产生生命特征。虽然现有的基因工程材料通常限于由生物来源的构建块构建的材料，但具有基因可工程性并不排除非生物或合成材料，而后者尚未得到充分探索。
