title: Reversible non-stick behaviour of a bacterial protein polymer provides a tuneable molecular mimic for cell and tissue engineering.
abstract: Yersina pestis, the bubonic plague bacterium, is coated with a polymeric protein hydrogel for protection from host defences. The protein, which is robust and non-stick, resembles structures found in many eukaryotic extracellular-matrix proteins. Cells grown on the natural polymer cannot adhere and grow poorly; however, when cell-adhesion motifs are inserted into the protein, the cells proliferate.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Roque
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soliakov
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: Sion R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Philips
authors.forename: Deepan S H
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Jeremy H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lakey
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C086725:caf1 protein, Yersinia pestis