Protein encapsulation within synthetic molecular hosts.

Fujita, Daishi; Suzuki, Kosuke; Sato, Sota; Yagi-Utsumi, Maho; Yamaguchi, Yoshiki; Mizuno, Nobuhiro; Kumasaka, Takashi; Takata, Masaki et al. · Nat Commun · 2012

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Protein encapsulation has long attracted many chemists and biologists because of its potential to control the structure and functions of proteins, but has been a daunting challenge because of their incommensurably larger size compared with common synthetic hosts. Here we report the encapsulation of a small protein, ubiquitin, within giant coordination cages. The protein was attached to one bidentate ligand and, upon addition of Pd(II) ions (M) and additional ligands (L), M(12)L(24) coordination nanocages self-assembled around the protein. Because of the well-defined host framework, the protein-encapsulated structure could be analysed by NMR spectroscopy, ultracentrifugation and X-ray crystallography.

Medical subject headings