title: Internal dynamics of a supramolecular nanofibre.
abstract: A large variety of functional self-assembled supramolecular nanostructures have been reported over recent decades. The experimental approach to these systems initially focused on the design of molecules with specific interactions that lead to discrete geometric structures, and more recently on the kinetics and mechanistic pathways of self-assembly. However, there remains a major gap in our understanding of the internal conformational dynamics of these systems and of the links between their dynamics and function. Molecular dynamics simulations have yielded information on the molecular fluctuations of supramolecular assemblies, yet experimentally it has been difficult to obtain analogous data with subnanometre spatial resolution. Using site-directed spin labelling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we measured the conformational dynamics of a self-assembled nanofibre in water through its 6.7 nm cross-section. Our measurements provide unique insight for the design of supramolecular functional materials.
authors.affiliation: Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Street, Suite 11-131, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Julia H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ortony
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Street, Suite 11-131, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA [2] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Christina J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Newcomb
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Street, Suite 11-131, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA [2].
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Liam C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Doan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Street, Suite 11-131, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA [2] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA [3] Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA [4] Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Stupp
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D004058:Diffusion; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D007700:Kinetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D013113:Spin Labels