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

本计画以蛋白质组装体为模板，制备杂化奈米结构，并探讨其功能。到目前为止，蛋白质组装结构可以通过利用蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用和通过蛋白质表面上特定肽残基的突变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程序，包括蛋白质表达，工程和纯化，这限制了蛋白质种类，以构建具有不同形态和大小尺度的丰富和功能性蛋白质材料。同时，由于蛋白质组装体制备的困难，以蛋白质组装体为模板构建有机-无机杂化材料的研究较少，这一研究具有重要的工业和学术意义。通过结合德国波茨坦大学的Lu团队在杂化结构合成方面的专业知识和中国复旦大学的Chen团队在蛋白质组装系统方面的专业知识，我们旨在开发基于蛋白质组装结构的新型杂化材料。自2014年以来，这两个小组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装体。在小分子的作用下，蛋白质被组装成高度有序的均一结构，包括微管、二维纳米片、晶体等。此外，使用蛋白质组装体作为模板/载体来形成具有受控形状的杂化材料还没有报道。这将为基于蛋白质的杂化纳米结构的合成和可能的应用带来重大进展，在该领域产生强大的影响。为此，我们将首先通过冷冻TEM和SAXS方法破译控制蛋白质组装体形成的关键因素。将详细研究寡糖诱导配体、蛋白质阻断剂和新驱动力等效应。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硫属化物，将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装体或混合组装体作为形成功能性水凝胶的构建块。

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.