Engineering of protein crystals for use as solid biomaterials

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Crystallography
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Protein crystals are solid biomaterials with porous structures formed by protein assemblies.
• Their lattice structures can be precisely controlled through molecular interfacial interactions.
• Protein crystals are functionalized as templates for immobilizing diverse molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in protein crystal engineering.
• To highlight the generation of solid functional materials using protein crystals.
• To cover applications both in vitro and within living cells.

Main Methods:

• Designing molecular interfacial interactions via covalent and non-covalent bonds to control crystal lattice structures.
• Functionalizing protein crystals as templates for immobilizing foreign molecules (e.g., metal nanoparticles, proteins).
• Studying in-cell protein crystallization for advancements in rapid crystallization and crystallography.

Main Results:

• Hybrid protein crystals demonstrate utility as functional materials for catalysis and structural analysis.
• Progress in in-cell protein crystallization facilitates rapid structural studies.
• Engineered protein crystals offer tunable properties for advanced material applications.

Conclusions:

• Crystal engineering of protein crystals is a rapidly advancing field.
• These engineered materials have significant potential in catalysis, structural biology, and nanotechnology.
• Future research directions include further exploration of in vitro and in-cell applications.