Tuning coiled coil stability with histidine-metal coordination

摘要: Coiled coils (CCs) have emerged as versatile building blocks for the synthesis of nanostructures, drug delivery systems and biomimetic hydrogels. Bioengineering metal coordination sites into terminal ends a synthetic coiled coil (CC), we generate nanoscale biological block with tunable stability. The reversible Ni2+ thermodynamically stabilizes CC, shown circular dichroism spectroscopy. Using atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule spectroscopy, it is further that Ni2+-binding reinforces CC mechanically, increasing barrier height dissociation. When used dynamic crosslink in polyethyleneglycol-based hydrogels, stability directly transferred to bulk material determines its viscoelastic properties. This reversibly thus, highlights an effective strategy rationally engineering properties biomolecular blocks, which can be translated emergent materials, well other containing molecular assemblies.