title: Self-assembly of coiled coils in synthetic biology: inspiration and progress.
abstract: Biological self-assembly is very complex and results in highly functional materials. In effect, it takes a bottom-up approach using biomolecular building blocks of precisely defined shape, size, hydrophobicity, and spatial distribution of functionality. Inspired by, and drawing lessons from self-assembly processes in nature, scientists are learning how to control the balance of many small forces to increase the complexity and functionality of self-assembled nanomaterials. The coiled-coil motif, a multipurpose building block commonly found in nature, has great potential in synthetic biology. In this review we examine the roles that the coiled-coil peptide motif plays in self-assembly in nature, and then summarize the advances that this has inspired in the creation of functional units, assemblies, and systems.
authors.affiliation: Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robson Marsden
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kros
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D010455:Peptides