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Tuning assembly size in Peptide-based supramolecular polymers by modulation of subunit association affinity

Overview of Oshaben KM et al.

AuthorsOshaben KM  Horne WS  
AffiliationDepartment of Chemistry   University of Pittsburgh    Pittsburgh   Pennsylvania 15260   United States.  
JournalBiomacromolecules
Year 2014

Abstract


Nature uses proteins and nucleic acids to form a wide array of functional architectures, and scientists have found inspiration from these structures in the rational design of synthetic biomaterials. We have recently shown that a modular subunit consisting of two α-helical coiled coil peptides attached at their midpoints by an organic linking group can spontaneously self-assemble in aqueous solution to form a soluble supramolecular polymer. Here we explore the use of coiled-coil association affinity, readily tuned by amino acid sequence, as a means to predictably alter properties of these supramolecular assemblies. A series of dimeric coiled-coil peptide sequences with identical quaternary folded structures but systematically altered folded stability were designed and biophysically characterized. The sequences were cross-linked to generate a series of branched, self-assembling biomacromolecular subunits. A clear relationship is observed between coiled-coil association affinity and apparent hydrodynamic diameter of the supramolecular polymers formed by these subunits. Our results provide a family of soluble supramolecular polymers of tunable size and well-characterized coiled-coil sequences that add to the library of building blocks available for use in the rational design of protein-based supramolecular biomaterials.