title: A virus-based biocatalyst.
abstract: Virus particles are probably the most precisely defined nanometre-sized objects that can be formed by protein self-assembly. Although their natural function is the storage and transport of genetic material, they have more recently been applied as scaffolds for mineralization and as containers for the encapsulation of inorganic compounds. The reproductive power of viruses has been used to develop versatile analytical methods, such as phage display, for the selection and identification of (bio)active compounds. To date, the combined use of self-assembly and reproduction has not been used for the construction of catalytic systems. Here we describe a self-assembled system based on a plant virus that has its coat protein genetically modified to provide it with a lipase enzyme. Using single-object and bulk catalytic studies, we prove that the virus-anchored lipase molecules are catalytically active. This anchored biocatalyst, unlike man-made supported catalysts, has the capability to reproduce itself in vivo, generating many independent catalytically active copies.
authors.affiliation: Interactions Plante Virus, UMR GDPP, IBVM, INRA, BP 81, F-33883, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
authors.forename: Noëlle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carette
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engelkamp
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akpa
authors.forename: Sebastien J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Peter C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Christianen
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Maan
authors.forename: Jens C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Thies
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weberskirch
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.forename: Roeland J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michon
authors.forename: Jan C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Van Hest
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances