Co-Assembly Tags Based on Charge Complementarity (CATCH) for Installing Functional Protein Ligands into Supramolecular Biomaterials

摘要: Installing folded proteins into biomaterials is gaining interest for imparting functional properties that often cannot be provided by unfolded peptides or small molecules, such as catalysis, antigen conformation, molecular recognition. Although covalent grafting provides a simple means to immobilize onto pre-formed biomaterials, amenable chemistries can alter protein bioactivity, are relatively non-specific, and difficult reproduce. Covalent fusions of bioactive molecules synthetic self-assemble nano-scale architectures promising alternative creating supramolecular with precise reproducible composition. Here we created pair oppositely charged peptides, referred “CATCH” (Co-Assembly Tags based on CHarge complementarity), install biomaterials. CATCH co-assemble β-sheet nanofibers when combined, yet assemble independently due electrostatic repulsion. Electrostatically controlled assembly enabled high yield production soluble CATCH-green fluorescent (CATCH(−)GFP) E. coli. Binary mixtures CATCH-GFP its charge-complementary peptide self-assembled microparticles, whereas ternary CATCH(−)GFP both macroscopic hydrogels. The system therefore likely broadly useful integrated components various biomedical biotechnological applications.