Artificial supramolecular protein assemblies as functional high-order protein scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Structural Biology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Protein supramolecular assemblies offer unique biomaterials with high functionality and structural accuracy.
• Diverse artificial protein assemblies, from oligomers to discrete architectures, are increasingly reported.
• These assemblies serve as high-order protein scaffolds for displaying functional proteins with controlled structure and valency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss artificial protein supramolecules as potent scaffolds.
• To highlight precise structural and valency control in protein assembly.
• To introduce examples of functional protein assemblies, focusing on valency-controlled nano-assemblies.

Main Methods:

• Overview of current protein assembly strategies.
• Fabrication of artificial protein supramolecules.
• Design of valency-controlled green fluorescent protein nano-assemblies.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated supramolecular protein scaffolds for polygonal assemblies of functional binding proteins.
• Enabled precise structural and valency control in artificial protein assemblies.
• Provided novel platforms for studying multivalent protein interactions.

Conclusions:

• Artificial protein scaffolds offer unprecedented ways to study multivalent protein interactions.
• These scaffolds have unlimited potential in fields like nanotechnology and vaccine development.
• Further research is needed to overcome remaining challenges in protein assembly.