title: Design and construction of higher-order structure and function in proteinosome-based protocells.
abstract: The design and construction of higher-order structure and function in proteinosome microcompartments enclosed by a cross-linked membrane of amphiphilic bovine serum albumin/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (BSA-NH2/PNIPAAm) nanoconjugates is described. Three structure/function relationships are investigated: (i) differential chemical cross-linking for the control of membrane disassembly and regulated release of encapsulated genetic polymers; (ii) enzyme-mediated hydrogel structuring of the internal microenvironment to increase mechanical robustness and generate a molecularly crowded reaction environment; and (iii) self-production of a membrane-enclosing outer hydrogel wall for generating protease-resistant forms of the protein-polymer protocells. Our results highlight the potential of integrating aspects of supramolecular and polymer chemistry into the design and construction of novel bioinspired microcompartments as a step toward small-scale materials systems based on synthetic cellularity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Avinash J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D004247:DNA