Molecular self-assembly of coiled-coil segments follows the lead of DNA origami, with a distinct potential advantage of polypeptides as the materials with versatile properties. Structure of the coiled-coil polypeptide assembly is encoded by the topology of building blocks, which is significantly easier to design than to solve the protein folding problem. We have shown that nanostructures, self-assembled from a single polypeptide chain, comprising coiled-coil forming segments connected with flexible linker could form closed polyhedra, such as a cube, as well as form a polyhedral lattice.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 4467226Coiled-coil-forming peptide segments enable formation of polypeptide molecular assemblies by interacting with one another. We designed, prepared and characterized a set of orthogonal coiled-coil pairs that served as the elements of the polypeptide building blocks. Formation of the correct secondary structure and orthogonality of the blocks was confirmed by CD. We designed a procedure for slow chemical annealing of the assembly and demonstrated different nanostructures depending on the conditions of the refolding. Polypeptide assemblies of nanometer dimensions were observed by AFM and TEM.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 4545050