title: Adjustable ellipsoid nanoparticles assembled from re-engineered connectors of the bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor.
abstract: A 24 x 30 nm ellipsoid nanoparticle containing 84 subunits or 7 dodecamers of the re-engineered core protein of the bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor was constructed. Homogeneous nanoparticles were obtained with simple one-step purification. Electron microscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation were employed to elucidate the structure, shape, size, and mechanism of assembly. The formation of this structure was mediated and stabilized by N-terminal peptide extensions. Reversal of the 84-subunit ellipsoid nanoparticle to its dodecamer subunit was controlled by the cleavage of the extended N-terminal peptide with a protease. The 84 outward-oriented C-termini were conjugated with a streptavidin binding peptide which can be used for the incorporation of markers. This further extends the application of this nanoparticle to pathogen detection and disease diagnosis by signal enhancement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Joseph Che-Yen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: R Holland
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Borries
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demeler
authors.forename: Peixuan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D042003:DNA Packaging; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D010455:Peptides; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases