title: First principles design of a core bioenergetic transmembrane electron-transfer protein.
abstract: Here we describe the design, Escherichia coli expression and characterization of a simplified, adaptable and functionally transparent single chain 4-α-helix transmembrane protein frame that binds multiple heme and light activatable porphyrins. Such man-made cofactor-binding oxidoreductases, designed from first principles with minimal reference to natural protein sequences, are known as maquettes. This design is an adaptable frame aiming to uncover core engineering principles governing bioenergetic transmembrane electron-transfer function and recapitulate protein archetypes proposed to represent the origins of photosynthesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Biodesign for Bioenergetics--the design and engineering of electronic transfer cofactors, proteins and protein networks, edited by Ronald L. Koder and J.L. Ross Anderson.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goparaju
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chobot
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wiedman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leslie Dutton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: bohdana@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Bohdana M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Discher
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006418:Heme / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011485:Protein Binding; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D006418:Heme
keywords: Evolution; Intraprotein electron transfer; Light-activation; Man-made redox proteins; Maquettes; Oxidoreductase; Photosynthesis; Protein design; Respiration; Transmembrane proteins