title: Water-Rich Fluid Material Containing Orderly Condensed Proteins.
abstract: A fluid material with high protein content (120-310 mg mL-1) was formed through the ordered self-assembly of native proteins segregated from water. This material is instantly prepared by the simple mixing of a protein solution with anionic and cationic surfactants. By changing the ratio of the surfactants based on the electrostatic characteristics of the target protein, we observed that the surfactants could function as a versatile molecular glue for protein assembly. Moreover, these protein assemblies could be disassembled back into an aqueous solution depending on the salt conditions. Owing to the water-retaining properties of the hydrophilic part of surfactants, the proteins in this material are in a water-rich environment, which maintains their native structure and function. The inclusion of water also provides functional extensibility to this material, as demonstrated by the preparation of an enzymatically active gel. We anticipate that the unique features of this material will permit the use of proteins not only in solution but also as elements of integrated functionalized materials.
authors.affiliation: Iyoda Supra-integrated Material Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0422-0225
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.affiliation: Iyoda Supra-integrated Material Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iyoda
mesh_terms: D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D055672:Static Electricity; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007477:Ions; D011506:Proteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water
keywords: materials science; proteins; self-assembly; surfactants