Shape-Morphing of an Artificial Protein Cage with Unusual Geometry Induced by a Single Amino Acid Change

Sharma, Mohit; Biela, Artur P.; Kowalczyk, Agnieszka; Borzęcka-Solarz, Kinga; Piette, Bernard M.A.G.; Gaweł, Szymon; Bishop, Joshua; Kukura, Philipp; Benesch, Justin L.P.; Imamura, Motonori; Scheuring, Simon; Heddle, Jonathan G.

Abstract

Artificial protein cages are constructed from multiple protein subunits. The interaction between the subunits, notably the angle formed between them, controls the geometry of the resulting cage. Here, using the artificial protein cage, “TRAP-cage”, we show that a simple alteration in the position of a single amino acid responsible for Au(I)-mediated subunit–subunit interactions in the constituent ring-shaped building blocks results in a more acute dihedral angle between them. In turn, this causes a dramatic shift in the structure from a 24-ring cage with an octahedral symmetry to a 20-ring cage with a C2 symmetry. This symmetry change is accompanied by a decrease in the number of Au(I)-mediated bonds between cysteines and a concomitant change in biophysical properties of the cage.

Citation

Sharma, M., Biela, A. P., Kowalczyk, A., Borzęcka-Solarz, K., Piette, B. M., Gaweł, S., Bishop, J., Kukura, P., Benesch, J. L., Imamura, M., Scheuring, S., & Heddle, J. G. (2022). Shape-Morphing of an Artificial Protein Cage with Unusual Geometry Induced by a Single Amino Acid Change. ACS Nanoscience Au, 2(5), 404-413. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnanoscienceau.2c00019

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 22, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 19, 2022
• Deposit Date: May 27, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 15, 2022
• Journal: ACS Nanoscience Au
• Electronic ISSN: 2694-2496
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 404-413
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnanoscienceau.2c00019
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1202857