Modular construction of polyhedra from a symmetric building block
EMSL Project ID
51342
Abstract
Despite advances in protein design, constructing artificial protein nano-architectures with desired structures, functions and dynamics remains a formidable challenge. Our group has developed chemical strategies inspired by principles of inorganic coordination chemistry and supramolecular chemistry, which has led to the design of complex protein assemblies with sophisticated structures and physicochemical properties. We propose to demonstrate that a simple C2-symmetric protein (ROP) can be used as a modular building block to generate diverse polyhedral architectures via metal-mediated interactions. In initial experiments, we showed that ROP can be appropriately modified with hydroxamate groups which allow self-assembly through Fe3+ coordination into discrete, symmetrical architectures. Negative-stain EM images indicate monodisperse particles that appear to possess the desired cubic symmetry. We now aim to perform single-particle imaging studies by cryo-EM microscopy at PNCC to determine the structure of these assemblies with high resolution, which will inform further design studies to obtain alternative polyhedral arrangements.
Project Details
Start Date
2020-05-15
End Date
2020-09-21
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members