Identification properties of a recombinant class I hydrophobin rHGFI

Hydrophobins fulfill various functions in fungal growth and morphology. These proteins can self-assemble at hydrophilic/hydrophobic interfaces and form amphipathic membranes. Based on their physical properties and hydropathy patterns, hydrophobins are divided into two classes (I and II). In order to identify the recombinant class I hydrophobin rHGFI, the different properties between rHGFI and the typical class II hydrophobin rHFBI were investigated. In contrast to rHGFI, no rodlet structure was observed on rHFBI coated mica surface, and the membranes formed on siliconized glass surfaces by rHFBI were not robust enough to resist treatment with 60% ethanol and 2% hot SDS. In contrast, the membranes formed by rHGFI on siliconized glass surfaces were so strong that could resist hot detergent and alcohol solution washing. Moreover, self-assembly of rHFBI at the water-air interface was not accompanied by a change in secondary structure. Meanwhile, β-sheet structures dramatically increased after rHGFI self-assembled at water-air interface, which could cause the fluorescence intensity of Thioflavin T increased and Congo Red and CD absorption spectra shift. Water-insoluble erythrosin B dispersion prepared with rHGFI and rHFBI were both stable for more than one month, which indicated that the interaction between erythrosin B and rHGFI/rHFBI was strong. This might promote rHGFI and rHFBI to be considered as potential dispersing agents to stabilize water-insoluble erythrosin B.