Hybrid nanostructures based on protein-assembly driven by carbohydrate-protein interactions

在本项目中，我们打算利用蛋白质组件作为模板制备混合纳米结构并探索其功能。到目前为止，蛋白质组装结构可以通过利用蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用和蛋白质表面特定肽残基突变所选择的蛋白质模式的对称性来实现。然而，这些工作需要繁琐的蛋白质表达、工程和纯化程序，这限制了构建不同形态和尺寸尺度的丰富功能性蛋白质材料的蛋白质种类。同时，由于蛋白质组件的制备困难，利用这些蛋白质组件作为模板构建有机-无机杂化材料的工作较少，这在工业和学术上都具有重要意义。结合波茨坦大学Lu团队（德国合作伙伴）在杂化结构合成方面的专业知识和复旦大学Chen团队（中国合作伙伴）在蛋白质系统组装方面的专业知识，我们的目标是开发基于蛋白质组装结构的新型杂化材料。自2014年以来，这两个团队一直在合作开发基于碳水化合物-蛋白质相互作用的新蛋白质组件。通过小分子的冥想，蛋白质组装成高度有序和均匀的结构，包括微管，二维纳米片，晶体等。然而，上述策略的作用机制尚不完全清楚。此外，利用蛋白质组件作为模板/载体来形成具有控制形状的杂化材料尚未见报道。这将为蛋白质基杂化纳米结构的合成和应用带来重大进展，对该领域产生重大影响。为此，我们将首先通过冷冻透射电镜和SAXS方法破译控制蛋白质组装形成的关键因素。对低聚糖诱导配体、蛋白块和新驱动力等效应进行详细研究。第二步，通过选择蛋白质微管作为模板，无机纳米颗粒，如金属纳米颗粒或金属二硫族化合物，将被选择性地沉积到蛋白质组装体上。最后，我们将使用蛋白质组件或杂交组件作为功能水凝胶形成的构建块。

In this project, we intend to prepare hybrid nanostructures via utilizing protein assemblies as templates and to explore their functions. Until now, protein assembly structures can be achieved via utilizing protein-protein interactions and the symmetry of selected protein modes by mutation of specific peptide residues on protein surfaces. However, these works require tedious procedures including protein expression, engineering and purification, which limit the protein species for building rich and functional protein materials with different morphology and size scale. Meanwhile, due to the difficulties for the preparation of protein assemblies, less work has been done to utilize these protein assemblies as template to build organic-inorganic hybrid materials, which is of both industrial and academic importance. By combining the expertise of Lu’s group from University of Potsdam (German partner) in synthesis of hybrid structures and Chen’s group from Fudan University (Chinese partner) in assembly of protein systems, we aim to develop new hybrid materials based on protein-assembly structures. Both groups have collaborated together for the development of new protein assemblies based on carbohydrate-protein interactions since 2014. Meditated by the small molecule, protein assembled into highly-ordered and uniform structures, including microtubules, 2D nanosheets, crystals etc. However, the mechanism of the above strategy has not been totally understood yet. In addition, the use of protein assemblies as template/carrier for the formation of hybrid materials with controlled shape has not been reported yet. This will make big progress for the synthesis and possible applications of protein-based hybrid nanostructures, giving strong impact in this field. For this purpose, we will first decipher the key factors controlling the formation of protein assemblies via cryo-TEM and SAXS methods. Effects, such as oligosaccharide inducing ligands, protein blocks and new driving forces will be studied in detail. In a second step, by choosing protein microtubes as template, inorganic nanoparticles, such as metal nanoparticles or metal dichalcogenides, will be selectively deposited onto protein assemblies. Finally, we will use the protein assemblies or the hybrid assemblies as building blocks for the formation of functional hydrogels.