Exploiting extremophilic proteins as robust biological components for advanced biomaterials

背景：机械稳定性是生物支架的基本特性。这包括肌肉蛋白质Titin中的高机械强度、断裂韧性和弹性与天然丝素纤维耐人寻味的机械性能的非凡结合。生物支架为先进生物材料的设计提供了极具吸引力的模型系统。特别是，来自极端微生物的蛋白质为合理设计或重新设计用于开发的强大的生物材料提供了有趣的机会。目标：我们将利用来自极端微生物的蛋白质来制造具有先进的机械和热稳定性的生物材料。通过了解构建块(极端亲和性蛋白质)的性质，我们将对生物材料进行预测控制。这种方法将在单分子力学和材料生物力学之间架起一座桥梁，揭示单个组件的机械属性如何转化为宏观材料的属性。新颖性：该项目将导致极端嗜热蛋白水凝胶的开发，由于其高水分含量、可调的机械性能和生物兼容性，这是一种具有广泛应用前景的生物材料。该项目有三项成果：i)利用单分子作用力光谱学生产和表征极端嗜热蛋白质结构。二)利用极端生物蛋白质组分生产新型生物材料；三)开发工具，合理设计具有特定性质的极端生物材料。及时性：对自然界中发现的蛋白质的机械性能的研究为设计具有先进材料性能平衡的仿生生物聚合物提供了灵感。这些研究揭示了蛋白质的力学特性是由重要的非共价相互作用决定的，这些作用定义了蛋白质独特的分子结构。了解这些非共价相互作用的重要性和作用将使我们能够从根本上理解生物支架。实验方法：该项目将使用最先进的单分子力谱来表征极端嗜热蛋白质在极端温度和溶剂环境中的机械性能。它将利用最近开发的光交联技术来生产基于蛋白质的水凝胶。

Background: Mechanical robustness is an essential property of biological scaffolds. This includes the remarkable combination of high mechanical strength, fracture toughness and elasticity in the muscle protein titin and the intriguing mechanical properties of natural silk fibres. Biological scaffolds offer attractive model systems for the design of advanced biomaterials. In particular, proteins from extremophile organisms present interesting opportunities to rationally engineer or re-engineer robust biological materials for exploitation.Objectives: We will exploit proteins from extremophile organisms to make biomaterials with advanced mechanical and thermal stability properties. By understanding the properties of the building block (the extremophilic proteins) we will have predictive control of the biomaterial. This approach will bridge the gap between single molecule mechanics and material biomechanics, revealing how the mechanical properties of individual components are translated to the properties of macroscopic materials. Novelty: The project will lead to the development of extremophilic protein-based hydrogels which are promising biomaterials for a number of applications due to their high water content, tuneable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The project has three outputs: i) production and characterization of extremophilic protein constructs using single molecule forces spectroscopy. ii) production of novel biomaterials using extremophile protein components iii) development of tools for the rational design of extreme biomaterials with specific properties.Timeliness: Studies on the mechanical properties of proteins found in nature have provided inspiration for the design of biomimetic biopolymers that have a balance of advanced material properties. These studies are revealing that the mechanical characteristics of proteins are determined by important non-covalent interactions which define their unique molecular structure. Understanding the importance and role of these non-covalent interactions will allow fundamental understanding of the biological scaffold.Experimental Approach: The project will involve state-of-the-art single molecule force spectroscopy to characterize the mechanical properties of extremophilic proteins in environmental extremes of temperature and solvent environment. It will exploit a recently developed photo-crosslinking technology for the production of protein-based hydrogels.