Design of a pH-dependent molecular switch in a caged protein platform.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 19113890.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1021/nl8027069.
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Abstract
Self-assembling protein cages provide a wide range of possible applications in nanotechnology. We report the first example of an engineered pH-dependent molecular switch in a virus-like particle. By genetically manipulating the subunit-subunit interface of the E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase, we introduce pH-responsive assembly into a scaffold that is natively stable at both pH 5.0 and 7.4. The redesigned protein module yields an intact, stable particle at pH 7.4 that dissociates at pH 5.0. This triggered behavior is especially relevant for applications in therapeutic delivery.
Medical subject headings
- Crystallization
- Drug Carriers
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Nanostructures
- Nanotechnology
- Protein Engineering
- Viral Envelope Proteins