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Population-based heteropolymer design to mimic protein mixtures
Zhiyuan Ruan1, Shuni Li2, Alexandra Grigoropoulos1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Nature
|March 8, 2023
Summary
Scientists designed synthetic heteropolymers that mimic protein functions in biological fluids. These new materials can assist protein folding, preserve biological samples, and enhance protein stability, offering insights into synthetic biology and material engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and synthetic biology
- Materials science and bioengineering
Background:
- Biological fluids are complex and variable, yet proteins within them function predictably.
- Proteins are thought to require only monomeric sequence for function, but this may be incomplete.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if protein sequences encode segmental-level interactions for navigating biological fluids.
- To design synthetic heteropolymers that emulate these segmental interactions and replicate protein functions.
Main Methods:
- Extracted segmental-level chemical characteristics and sequential arrangements from natural protein libraries.
- Designed heteropolymer ensembles mimicking these characteristics.
- Assessed heteropolymer functions in replicating biological fluid properties.
Main Results:
- Heteropolymer ensembles with high segmental similarity to natural proteins replicated key biological fluid functions.
- Demonstrated ability to assist protein folding, preserve biological samples, and enhance protein thermal stability.
- Translated segmental sequence information into defined intermolecular interactions.
Conclusions:
- Protein sequences encode segmental-level interactions crucial for function in complex biological fluids.
- Synthetic heteropolymers can emulate these interactions to replicate protein behaviors.
- This framework enables synthetic realization of protein properties, bio/abiotic material engineering, and potential matter-to-life transformations.
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