1:30 PM - SB04.10.01
Breaking the ‘Lock-and -Key’ Rule—Engineering Multi-Responsiveness in Intrinsically Disorder Proteins and Hydrogels
Naba Dutta1,2,Rajkamal Balu1,Namita Choudhury1,2,Anita Hill3
RMIT University1,The University of Adelaide2,CSIRO3
Show Abstract
Nature, through evolution has perfected elegant arrays of proteins with unusual characteristics and amazing functionalities using limited number of amino acid residues under mild conditions. This understanding has instigated a significant paradigm shift towards the design and synthesis of functional materials using biomimetic proteins and peptides incorporating nature's exquisite molecular design. Traditionally, it is being considered that a unique biological function of a protein is defined by its specific highly structured state. Contrary to this view, recently, the natural abundance and functional importance of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) has been recognized.1-3 The goal of this presentation is to highlight our body of recent work on genetically engineered resilin-mimetic protein-polymers (RMPs) and gels; and their disordered-based functionality. We will discuss their unusual molecular architecture, dynamics of their structural ensembles, advanced multi-stimuli responsiveness, structure-directed biomineralization process, their responsive hydrogels; and attempt to elucidate the molecular origin of their unusual adaptability.
Native resilin is a member of the family of elastic proteins that includes elastin, gluten, gliadin, and spider silks and is purported to be the most resilient elastic material known with resilience >97%. The structural composition of rec1-resilin is dominated by 18 copies of a 15-residue consensus sequence: -[Gly-Gly-Arg-Pro-Ser-Asp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Ala-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Asn]- .We have employed a combination of both modelling tools and state-of-the-art spectroscopic, microscopic and scattering techniques including FTIR, UV-Vis, AFM, TEM, DLS, SAXS, SANS, USANS to develop deeper understanding and elucidate the structural organization and function. Our work has revealed that RMPs (synthesized using recombinant DNA technology) are IDP 4,5 that show very high flexibility and demonstrates multi-stimuli responsiveness (responsive to pH, ion content, temperature) including unusual dual phase behaviour (display both UCST-upper critical solution temperature and LCST-lower critical solution temperature).6,7 Furthermore, we have demonstrated our ability to tune the thermo-responsiveness of RMPs 6-8 and employed the unusual multi-stimuli responsiveness of RMPs to create patterned surfaces,9 responsive interfaces10 and tunable co-assembled hydrogels.11 We have developed a directed self-assembly approach for colloidal synthesis of RMP-mediated size-controlled metallic nano-partilces, nano- clusters12,13and colloidal catalyst ink based electrocatalyst layer14 in aqueous medium under mild condition. Overall, the research has revealed the potential of the IDPs to pave the way for the design of novel biomaterials and nano-bio conjugates.
References
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