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

在这个项目中，我们打算通过利用蛋白质组装作为模板来制备杂化纳米结构，并探索它们的功能。到目前为止，蛋白质组装结构可以通过利用蛋白质之间的相互作用以及通过突变蛋白质表面特定的多肽残基来选择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、工程和纯化等步骤，限制了构建不同形态和尺寸的丰富功能蛋白质材料的蛋白质种类。同时，由于蛋白质组装体的制备难度较大，利用这些蛋白质组装体作为模板构建有机-无机杂化材料的工作较少，具有重要的工业和学术意义。通过结合来自波茨坦大学(德国合作伙伴)的Lu团队在合成杂交结构方面的专业知识和来自复旦大学(中国合作伙伴)的Chen团队在蛋白质体系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。在小分子的作用下，蛋白质组装成高度有序和均匀的结构，包括微管、2D纳米片、晶体等。然而，上述策略的机制尚未完全被理解。此外，利用蛋白质组装体作为模板/载体来形成形状可控的杂化材料尚未见报道。这将为蛋白质杂化纳米结构的合成和可能的应用取得重大进展，对该领域产生重大影响。为此，我们将首先通过低温电子显微镜和SAXS方法破译控制蛋白质组装形成的关键因素。将详细研究低聚糖诱导配体、蛋白质阻断和新的驱动力等影响。在第二步中，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氢化合物，将被选择性地沉积在蛋白质组装件上。最后，我们将使用蛋白质组装体或杂化组装体作为构建功能水凝胶的基础。

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.