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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro
Published on: April 8, 2020
Supramolecular protein cages constructed from a crystalline protein matrix
Hashiru Negishi1, Satoshi Abe, Keitaro Yamashita
1School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan. saabe@bio.titech.ac.jp tueno@bio.titech.ac.jp.
Abstract:
Protein crystals are formed via ordered arrangements of proteins, which assemble to form supramolecular structures. Here, we show a method for the assembly of supramolecular protein cages within a crystalline environment. The cages are stabilized by covalent cross-linking allowing their release via dissolution of the crystal. The high stability of the desiccated protein crystals allows cages to be constructed.
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