Charge density as a molecular modulator of nanostructuration in intrinsically disordered protein polymers.

Charge density as a molecular modulator of nanostructuration in intrinsically disordered protein polymers. Biomacromolecules. 2020 Aug 25;: Authors: Acosta S, Poocza L, Quintanilla-Sierra L, Rodríguez-Cabello JC Abstract Intrinsically disordered protein polymers (IDPPs) have attracted a lot of attention in the development of bioengineered devices and for use as study models in molecular biology due to their biomechanical properties and stimuli-responsiveness. The present study aims to understand the effect of charge density on the self-assembly of IDPPs. To that end, a library of recombinant IDPPs based on an amphiphilic diblock design with different charge densities was bioproduced and their supramolecular assembly characterized on the nano-, meso- and microscale. Although phase transition was driven by the collapse of hydrophobic moieties, the hydrophilic block composition strongly affected hierarchical assembly and, therefore, enabled the production of new molecular architectures, thus leading to new dynamics that govern the liquid-gel transition. These results highlight the importance of electrostatic repulsion for the hierarchical assembly of IDPPs and provide insights into the manufacture of supramolecular protein-based materials. PMID: 32840359 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Biomacromolecules - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Biomacromolecules Source Type: research