Bifunctional nanotube scaffolds for diverse ligands are purified simply from Escherichia coli strains coexpressing two functionalized flagellar genes.

Woods, Richard D; Takahashi, Noriko; Aslam, Akhmed; Pleass, Richard J; Aizawa, Shin-Ichi; Sockett, R Elizabeth · Nano Lett · 2007

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We functionalized Escherichia coli FliC flagellin proteins to form tailored nanotubes binding single types or pairs of ligands, including divalent cations, fluorescent antibodies, or biotin-avidin-linked moieties such as ferritins. The ratio of each tag in bifunctionalized flagella could be toggled extending their sophistication as nanoscaffolds. Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV) protease site-containing FliCs were cleaved by the cognate protease without filament disintegration, potentiating their use as removable nanolithography masks to deposit attached ligands by protease cleavage.

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