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  • Tailoring the formation and stability of self-assembled structures from precisely engineered intrinsically disordered protein polymers: A comprehensive review
Title: Tailoring the formation and stability of self-assembled structures from precisely engineered intrinsically disordered protein polymers: A comprehensive review
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are a class of proteins that lack stable three-dimensional structures. Despite their natural tendency to be disordered, precise modulations of molecular parameters (e.g., sequence, length) through biomolecular engineering tools and control of environmental conditions tailor the formation of dynamic self-assembled structures. In addition to designing structures that respond to external stimuli for specific biotechnological applications (e.g., biosensors), other applications require stable structures (e.g., engineered tissues, drug delivery vehicles) that resist unintended changes and disassembly across various environmental conditions, such as different concentrations and temperatures. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the design and engineering principles that govern the self-assembly of biosynthetic IDPs and their stability. Specifically, elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are highlighted as a prominent example of biosynthetically designed, thermoresponsive IDPs. Examples include ELPs that form various self-assembled structures by themselves as ELP homopolymers or diblock copolymers, ELPs combined with other IDPs in diblock copolymers, and ELP-based polymer hybrids containing functional (bio)molecules. It is anticipated that the efforts to enhance the stability of self-assembled structures through the precise engineering of IDP-based polymers have expanded the potential for diverse biotechnological applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, diagnostic assays, and biomedicine.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2143126
PAR ID:
10501123
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Elsevier
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Giant
Volume:
14
Issue:
C
ISSN:
2666-5425
Page Range / eLocation ID:
100158
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
Intrinsically disordered protein Protein polymer Self-assembly Stimulus responsiveness Structural stability
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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