title: Highly efficient enzyme encapsulation in a protein nanocage: towards enzyme catalysis in a cellular nanocompartment mimic.
abstract: The study of enzyme behavior in small nanocompartments is crucial for the understanding of biocatalytic processes in the cellular environment. We have developed an enzymatic conjugation strategy to attach a model enzyme to the interior of a cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid. It is shown that with this methodology high encapsulation efficiencies can be achieved. Additionally, we demonstrate that the encapsulation does not affect the enzyme performance in terms of a decreased activity or a hampered substrate diffusion. Finally, it is shown that the encapsulated enzymes are protected against proteases. We believe that our strategy can be used to study enzyme kinetics in an environment that approaches physiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.vanhest@science.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schoonen
authors.forename: Roeland J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Jan C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Hest
mesh_terms: D055162:Biocatalysis; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017795:Bromovirus; D002213:Capsid; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008049:Lipase / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008049:Lipase; C431349:lipase B, Candida antarctica