Synthesis of Polymer-Protein Hybrid Materials Using Site Selective Protein Modification Reactions

在这项由化学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助的项目中，加州大学伯克利分校的Matthew Francis将开发一种可扩展的N-末端转氨基反应，作为一种在单一位置修饰具有单一官能团的蛋白质的手段，并展示该方法在制备用于净水的蛋白质-聚合物杂化材料中的使用。该项目的方法包括两个部分。首先，PI最近开发的N-末端化学修饰反应将用于将临界溶液温度(LCST)较低的聚合物连接到能够隔离重金属、吖系元素或激素的蛋白质上。将研究这些蛋白质-聚合物杂化材料去除水中微量这些污染物的效果。第二，新的低成本、高效的转氨基试剂将基于母体转氨基化学产率的提高，通过奎宁缩合来捕获亚胺，或在Claisen缩合的基础上改进。人们认为，这些方法将提高蛋白质修饰化学的可扩展性，从而促进这些蛋白质-聚合物系统的制造和创新。更广泛的影响包括培训研究生和本科生，通过在扶轮社会议和其他类似的当地组织中的演讲向成人学习者宣传，创建一个新的“厨房里的化学”课程，以及针对和去除水中特定杂质的方法的潜在社会益处。在这项工作中开发的新技术将为在特定地点修改生物分子提供许多途径。这些修饰的蛋白质可用于各种生物技术应用，包括用于去除饮用水中的重金属离子、榄系金属和有机毒素的低成本试剂。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Matthew Francis of the University of California at Berkeley will develop a scalable N-terminal transamination reaction as a means to modify proteins with a single functional group at a single location and to demonstrate the use of this methodology in the preparation of protein-polymer hybrids for water purification. The approach to the project involves two parts. First, the PI's recently developed N-terminal chemical modification reaction will be used to attach polymers that exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) to proteins capable of sequestering heavy metals, actinides or hormones. The efficacy of these protein-polymer hybrids in removing trace amounts of these contaminants from water will be studied. Second, new low-cost, efficient transamination reagents will be developed based upon yield improvement of the parent transamination chemistry, imine capture via quinine condensation, or adaptations of the Claisen condensation. It is thought that such methods will improve the scalability of the protein modification chemistry and thereby facilitate manufacturing and innovation with these protein-polymer systems. The broader impacts involve training graduate and undergraduate students, outreach to adult learners through presentations at Rotary Club meetings and other such local organizations, creating a new "Chemistry in the Kitchen" class, and the potential societal benefits of methodologies to target and remove specific impurities from water.The new techniques developed in this work will provide many avenues for the modification of biomolecules in specific locations. These modified proteins could be used in a variety of biotechnology applications including low cost agents for the removal of heavy metal ions, actinide metals, and organic toxins from drinking water.