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Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Intrinsically disordered proteins are a group of proteins that do not fold into specific three-dimensional structures. Their structural flexibility allows them to complement ordered proteins to perform functions that are inaccessible to rigid structures. They are more common in eukaryotes than prokaryotes and may either be exclusively intrinsically disordered or hybrid proteins, consisting of a mix of ordered and disordered regions. The absence of a rigid structure in these proteins can be...

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Protein-protein Interfaces

Protein-protein Interfaces

Many proteins form complexes to carry out their functions, making protein-protein interactions (PPIs) essential for an organism's survival. Most PPIs are stabilized by numerous weak noncovalent chemical forces. The physical shape of the interfaces determines the way two proteins interact. Many globular proteins have closely-matching shapes on their surfaces, which form a large number of weak bonds. Additionally, many PPIs occur between two helices or between a surface cleft and a...

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
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Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
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Protein and Protein Structure

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Proteins are one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules. Proteins may be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective. They may serve in transport, storage, or membranes; or they may be toxins or enzymes. Their structures, like their functions, vary greatly. They are all, however, amino acid polymers arranged in a linear sequence.
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme...

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Programmability and biomedical utility of intrinsically-disordered protein polymers.

Maria Camila Giraldo-Castaño¹, Kai A Littlejohn¹, Alexa Regina Chua Avecilla¹

¹Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews

|August 2, 2024

Summary

Intrinsically disordered protein polymers (IDPPs) are engineered biomaterials with tunable functions. Their programmable nature fuels innovation in smart biomaterials, drug delivery, and cellular engineering.

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Protein Engineering
Biotechnology

Background:

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) possess dynamic structures crucial for biological functions.
The low sequence complexity of IDPs inspired the creation of intrinsically-disordered protein polymers (IDPPs).
IDPPs offer stimuli-responsive properties and tunable functionality through repetitive architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

To review multidisciplinary progress in programming and utilizing IDPP bio-functionality.
To inspire the bioengineering of multifunctional IDP-based materials.
To highlight opportunities in IDPP intracellular behaviors for biomedical innovation.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of recent research on IDPP design and application.
Analysis of sequence-level control over IDPP functionality.
Exploration of IDPPs in biomaterials, drug delivery, and cellular engineering.

Main Results:

IDPPs enable programmable control over protein functionality via repeat-level encoding.
Emergent sequence-level control drives the development of self-assembling biomaterials, drug delivery systems, and biomolecular condensates.
IDPPs are engineered de novo or modeled on endogenous IDPs for dual biophysical and biological roles.

Conclusions:

IDPPs represent a powerful platform for creating advanced, programmable smart biomaterials.
The intracellular applications of IDPPs offer significant potential for biomedical discovery and innovation.
Continued research in IDPPs will accelerate the engineering of high-value biotechnologies and biomaterials.