Surface modifications created by using engineered hydrophobins.
Hydrophobins are small (ca. 100 amino acids) secreted fungal proteins that are characterized by the presence of eight conserved cysteine residues and by a typical hydropathy pattern. Class I hydrophobins self-assemble at hydrophilic-hydrophobic interfaces into highly insoluble amphipathic membranes, thereby changing the nature of surfaces. Hydrophobic surfaces become hydrophilic, while hydrophilic surfaces become hydrophobic. To see whether surface properties of assembled hydrophobins can be changed, 25 N-terminal residues of the mature SC3 hydrophobin were deleted (TrSC3). In addition, the cell-binding domain of fibronectin (RGD) was fused to the N terminus of mature SC3 (RGD-SC3) and TrSC3 (RGD-TrSC3). Self-assembly and surface activity were not affected by these modifications. However, physiochemical properties at the hydrophilic side of the assembled hydrophobin did change. This was demonstrated by a change in wettability and by enhanced growth of fibroblasts on Teflon-coated with RGD-SC3, TrSC3, or RGD-TrSC3 compared to bare Teflon or Teflon coated with SC3. Thus, engineered hydrophobins can be used to functionalize surfaces.
Scholtmeijer
Karin
K
Groningen Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, University of Groningen, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands. K.Scholtmeijer@chem.rug.nl
Janssen
Meike I
MI
Gerssen
Bertus
B
de Vocht
Marcel L
ML
van Leeuwen
Babs M
BM
van Kooten
Theo G
TG
Wösten
Han A B
HA
Wessels
Joseph G H
JG
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012567:Schizophyllum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
D005353:Fibronectins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene