title: Design of a pH-dependent molecular switch in a caged protein platform.
abstract: Self-assembling protein cages provide a wide range of possible applications in nanotechnology. We report the first example of an engineered pH-dependent molecular switch in a virus-like particle. By genetically manipulating the subunit-subunit interface of the E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase, we introduce pH-responsive assembly into a scaffold that is natively stable at both pH 5.0 and 7.4. The redesigned protein module yields an intact, stable particle at pH 7.4 that dissociates at pH 5.0. This triggered behavior is especially relevant for applications in therapeutic delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2575, USA.
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.forename: Sierin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Szu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins