title: Proteins as supramolecular building blocks: Nterm-Lsr2 as a new protein tecton.
abstract: Proteins hold great promise in forming complex nanoscale structures which could be used in the development of new nanomaterials, devices, biosensors, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. The potential to produce nanomaterials from proteins is well supported by the numerous examples of self-assembling proteins found in nature. We have explored self-assembling proteins for use as supramolecular building blocks, or tectons, specifically the N-terminal domain of Lsr2, Nterm-Lsr2. A key feature of this protein is that it undergoes self-assembly via proteolytic cleavage, thereby allowing us to generate supramolecular assemblies in response to a specific trigger. Herein, we report the effects of pH and protein concentration on the oligomerization of Nterm-Lsr2. Furthermore, via protein engineering, we have introduced a new trigger for oligomerization via enteropeptidase cleavage. The new construct of Nterm-Lsr2 can be activated and assembled in a controlled fashion and provides some ability to alter the ratio of higher ordered structures formed.
authors.affiliation: Callaghan Innovation, Integrated Bioactive Technologies Group, 69 Gracefield Road, Lower Hutt, New Zealand; Biomolecular Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ashmead
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Negron
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arcus
authors.forename: Juliet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gerrard
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins
keywords: Lsr2; self-assembling proteins; supramolecular building blocks; tecton; triggered assembly