Download MendeleyProtein-directed self-assembly of a fullerene crystal.
Kim, K.H., Ko, D.K., Kim, Y.T., Kim, N.H., Paul, J., Zhang, S.Q., Murray, C.B., Acharya, R., DeGrado, W.F., Kim, Y.H., Grigoryan, G.(2016) Nat Commun 7: 11429-11429
- PubMed: 27113637
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11429
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
5ET3, 5HKN, 5HKR - PubMed Abstract:
Learning to engineer self-assembly would enable the precise organization of molecules by design to create matter with tailored properties. Here we demonstrate that proteins can direct the self-assembly of buckminsterfullerene (C60) into ordered superstructures. A previously engineered tetrameric helical bundle binds C60 in solution, rendering it water soluble. Two tetramers associate with one C60, promoting further organization revealed in a 1.67-Å crystal structure. Fullerene groups occupy periodic lattice sites, sandwiched between two Tyr residues from adjacent tetramers. Strikingly, the assembly exhibits high charge conductance, whereas both the protein-alone crystal and amorphous C60 are electrically insulating. The affinity of C60 for its crystal-binding site is estimated to be in the nanomolar range, with lattices of known protein crystals geometrically compatible with incorporating the motif. Taken together, these findings suggest a new means of organizing fullerene molecules into a rich variety of lattices to generate new properties by design.
Organizational Affiliation:
SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea.
