title: Functionalization of α-synuclein fibrils.
abstract: The propensity of peptides and proteins to form self-assembled structures has very promising applications in the development of novel nanomaterials. Under certain conditions, amyloid protein α-synuclein forms well-ordered structures - fibrils, which have proven to be valuable building blocks for bionanotechnological approaches. Herein we demonstrate the functionalization of fibrils formed by a mutant α-synuclein that contains an additional cysteine residue. The fibrils have been biotinylated via thiol groups and subsequently joined with neutravidin-conjugated gold nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the expected structure - nanoladders. The ability of fibrils (and of the additional components) to assemble into such complex structures offers new opportunities for fabricating novel hybrid materials or devices.
authors: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius University, Mokslininku 12, Vilnius LT-08662, Lithuania.
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Povilonienė
authors: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius University, Mokslininku 12, Vilnius LT-08662, Lithuania.
authors: Vida
authors: V
authors: Časaitė
authors: Semiconductor Physics Institute, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, A. Gostauto 11, Vilnius LT-01108, Lithuania.
authors: Virginijus
authors: V
authors: Bukauskas
authors: Semiconductor Physics Institute, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, A. Gostauto 11, Vilnius LT-01108, Lithuania.
authors: Arūnas
authors: A
authors: Šetkus
authors: Institute of Botany of Nature Research Center, Zaliuju Ezeru 49, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Juozas
authors: J
authors: Staniulis
authors: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius University, Mokslininku 12, Vilnius LT-08662, Lithuania.
authors: Rolandas
authors: R
authors: Meškys
keywords: atomic force microscopy; gold nanoparticles; nanostructures; self-assembly; α-synuclein