Protein-like fully reversible tetramerisation and super-association of an aminocellulose.
Unusual protein-like, partially reversible associative behaviour has recently been observed in solutions of the water soluble carbohydrates known as 6-deoxy-6-(ω-aminoalkyl)aminocelluloses, which produce controllable self-assembling films for enzyme immobilisation and other biotechnological applications. Now, for the first time, we have found a fully reversible self-association (tetramerisation) within this family of polysaccharides. Remarkably these carbohydrate tetramers are then seen to associate further in a regular way into supra-molecular complexes. Fully reversible oligomerisation has been hitherto completely unknown for carbohydrates and instead resembles in some respects the assembly of polypeptides and proteins like haemoglobin and its sickle cell mutation. Our traditional perceptions as to what might be considered "protein-like" and what might be considered as "carbohydrate-like" behaviour may need to be rendered more flexible, at least as far as interaction phenomena are concerned.
Center of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraβe 10, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Melanie
M
Nikolajski
National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences, College Road, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Gary G
GG
Adams
National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences, College Road, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Richard B
RB
Gillis
National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences, College Road, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
David Tabot
DT
Besong
National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences, College Road, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Arthur J
AJ
Rowe
Center of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraβe 10, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Thomas
T
Heinze
National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences, College Road, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Stephen E
SE
Harding
D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D002498:Centrifugation; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012996:Solutions
C504165:6-amino-6-deoxycellulose; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D011506:Proteins; D012996:Solutions; D002482:Cellulose