Supercharged Proteins and Polypeptides

Advanced Materials, vol. 32, pp. e1905309

Abstract

Electrostatic interactions play a vital role in nature. Biomacromolecules such as proteins are orchestrated by electrostatics, among other intermolecular forces, to assemble and organize biochemistry. Natural proteins with a high net charge exist in a folded state or are unstructured and can be an inspiration for scientists to artificially supercharge other protein entities. Recent findings show that supercharging proteins allows for control of their properties such as temperature resistance and catalytic activity. One elegant method to transfer the favorable properties of supercharged proteins to other proteins is the fabrication of fusions. Genetically engineered, supercharged unstructured polypeptides (SUPs) are just one promising fusion tool. SUPs can also be complexed with artificial entities to yield thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals and liquids. These architectures represent novel bulk materials that are sensitive to external stimuli. Interestingly, SUPs undergo fluid-fluid phase separation to form coacervates. These coacervates can even be directly generated in living cells or can be combined with dissipative fiber assemblies that induce life-like features. Supercharged proteins and SUPs are developed into exciting classes of materials. Their synthesis, structures, and properties are summarized. Moreover, potential applications are highlighted and challenges are discussed.

Authors 4

1. Chao Ma

   Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands

   Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

2. Anke Malessa

   Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands

   Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

3. Arnold J. Boersma Aachen

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany

4. Kai Liu

   Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry · State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resources Utilization

   Affiliation as printed

   State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences 130022 Changchun China

   State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 130022 Changchun, China