Engineering Protein and Peptide Building Blocks for Nanotechnology

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Banta ◽  
Zaki Megeed ◽  
Monica Casali ◽  
Kaushal Rege ◽  
Martin L. Yarmush
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Motors ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Biological Synthesis ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Short Discussion ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Function ◽  
Proteins And Peptides

The tremendous diversity in the structure and function of proteins has stimulated intense interest in using them for nanotechnology applications. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the engineering of proteins and peptides for the design and construction of functional and structural elements of nanodevices. We begin with a short discussion highlighting the differences between chemical and biological synthesis of proteins and peptides. Subsequently, we review recent applications of proteins and peptides as molecular motors, transducers, biosensors, and structural elements of nanodevices. We supplement this review with highlights of our own work in the areas of peptide-based transducers for stand-alone and intra-molecular applications. This is followed by a short discussion of nanotechnology safety issues, and how proteins and peptides may enable the development of biocompatible nanomaterials. The future outlook for protein and peptide-based nanomaterials is then discussed, with an eye toward the significant impact of improved computational techniques on the field.

Metalloligand Strategies for Assembling Heteronuclear Nanocages – Recent Developments

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Li ◽  
Leonard F. Lindoy
Keyword(s):  
Structural Properties ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Present Discussion ◽  
The Past ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Metal Organic ◽  
Multifunctional Ligand

The use of metalloligands as building blocks for the assembly of metallo-organic cages has received increasing attention over the past two decades or so. In part, the popularity of this approach reflects its stepwise nature that lends itself to the predesigned construction of metallocages and especially heteronuclear metallocages. The focus of the present discussion is on the use of metalloligands for the construction of discrete polyhedral cages, very often incorporating heterometal ions as structural elements. The metalloligand approach uses metal-bound multifunctional ligand building blocks that display predesigned structural properties for coordination to a second metal ion such that the rational design and construction of both homo- and heteronuclear metal–organic cages are facilitated. The present review covers published literature in the area from early 2015 to early 2019.

scholarly journals In Situ Real-Time TEM Reveals Growth, Transformation and Function in One-Dimensional Nanoscale Materials: From a Nanotechnology Perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolay Petkov
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Semiconductor Nanowires ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Function ◽  
Physical Phenomena ◽  
Fundamental Physical

This paper summarises recent developments in in situ TEM instrumentation and operation conditions. The focus of the discussion is on demonstrating how improved understanding of fundamental physical phenomena associated with nanowire or nanotube materials, revealed by following transformations in real time and high resolution, can assist the engineering of emerging electronic and optoelectronic devices. Special attention is given to Si, Ge, and compound semiconductor nanowires and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as one of the most promising building blocks for devices inspired by nanotechnology.

Combinatorial Peptide Libraries for Selecting Inorganic-Binding Proteins: A Step in Molecular Biomimetics

2003 ◽  
Vol 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Tamerler ◽  
S. Dinçer ◽  
D. Heidel ◽  
N. Karagûler ◽  
M. Sarikaya
Keyword(s):  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Molecular Engineering ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Combinatorial Peptide Libraries ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
Complex Functions ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Molecular Biomimetics

AbstractProteins, one of the building blocks in organisms, not only control the assembly in biological systems but also provide most of their complex functions. It may be possible to assemble materials for practical technological applications utilizing the unique advantages provided by proteins. Here we discuss molecular biomimetic pathways in the quest for imitating biology at the molecular scale via protein engineering. We use combinatorial biology protocols to select short polypeptides that have affinity to inorganic materials and use them in assembling novel hybrid materials. We give an overview of some of the recent developments of molecular engineering towards this goal. Inorganic surface specific proteins were identified by using cell surface and phage display technologies. Examples of metal and metal oxide specific polypeptides were represented with an emphasis on certain level of specificities. The recognition and self assembling characteristics of these inorganic-binding proteins would be employed in develeopment of hybrid multifunctional materials for novel bio- and nano-technological applications.

DNA-based self-assembly of nanostructures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Carter ◽  
Chenxiang Lin ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Hao Yan ◽  
Thomas H. LaBean
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Directed Assembly ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Hierarchical Assembly ◽  
Synthetic Dna ◽  
Nanoscale Manufacturing ◽  
Covalently Linked ◽  
Design Construction ◽  
Proteins And Peptides

This article examines the DNA-based self-assembly of nanostructures. It first reviews the development of DNA self-assembly and DNA-directed assembly, focusing on the main strategies and building blocks available in the modern molecular construction toolbox, including the design, construction, and analysis of nanostructures composed entirely of synthetic DNA, as well as origami nanostructures formed from a mixture of synthetic and biological DNA. In particular, it considers the stepwise covalent synthesis of DNA nanomaterials, unmediated assembly of DNA nanomaterials, hierarchical assembly, nucleated assembly, and algorithmic assembly. It then discusses DNA-directed assembly of heteromaterials such as proteins and peptides, gold nanoparticles, and multicomponent nanostructures. It also describes the use of complementary DNA cohesion as 'smart glue' for bringing together covalently linked functional groups, biomolecules, and nanomaterials. Finally, it evaluates the potential future of DNA-based self-assembly for nanoscale manufacturing for applications in medicine, electronics, photonics, and materials science.

Mesencephalic GABA neuronal development: no more on the other side of oblivion

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 371-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suyan Li ◽  
Sampada Joshee ◽  
Anju Vasudevan
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Developmental Regulation ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Psychiatric Illnesses ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Gaba Neurons ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

AbstractMidbrain GABA neurons, endowed with multiple morphological, physiological and molecular characteristics as well as projection patterns are key players interacting with diverse regions of the brain and capable of modulating several aspects of behavior. The diversity of these GABA neuronal populations based on their location and function in the dorsal, medial or ventral midbrain has challenged efforts to rapidly uncover their developmental regulation. Here we review recent developments that are beginning to illuminate transcriptional control of GABA neurons in the embryonic midbrain (mesencephalon) and discuss its implications for understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric illnesses.

scholarly journals Bioelectrocatalytic hydrogels from electron-conducting metallopolypeptides coassembled with bifunctional enzymatic building blocks

2008 ◽  
Vol 105 (40) ◽  
pp. 15275-15280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian R. Wheeldon ◽  
Joshua W. Gallaway ◽  
Scott Calabrese Barton ◽  
Scott Banta
Keyword(s):  
Polyphenol Oxidase ◽  
Building Block ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Electrical Contact ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Coiled Coils ◽  
Biofuel Cell ◽  
Random Coil ◽  
Catalytic Current ◽  
And Function

Here, we present two bifunctional protein building blocks that coassemble to form a bioelectrocatalytic hydrogel that catalyzes the reduction of dioxygen to water. One building block, a metallopolypeptide based on a previously designed triblock polypeptide, is electron-conducting. A second building block is a chimera of artificial α-helical leucine zipper and random coil domains fused to a polyphenol oxidase, small laccase (SLAC). The metallopolypeptide has a helix–random-helix secondary structure and forms a hydrogel via tetrameric coiled coils. The helical and random domains are identical to those fused to the polyphenol oxidase. Electron-conducting functionality is derived from the divalent attachment of an osmium bis-bipyrdine complex to histidine residues within the peptide. Attachment of the osmium moiety is demonstrated by mass spectroscopy (MS-MALDI-TOF) and cyclic voltammetry. The structure and function of the α-helical domains are confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy and by rheological measurements. The metallopolypeptide shows the ability to make electrical contact to a solid-state electrode and to the redox centers of modified SLAC. Neat samples of the modified SLAC form hydrogels, indicating that the fused α-helical domain functions as a physical cross-linker. The fusion does not disrupt dimer formation, a necessity for catalytic activity. Mixtures of the two building blocks coassemble to form a continuous supramolecular hydrogel that, when polarized, generates a catalytic current in the presence of oxygen. The specific application of the system is a biofuel cell cathode, but this protein-engineering approach to advanced functional hydrogel design is general and broadly applicable to biocatalytic, biosensing, and tissue-engineering applications.

scholarly journals Distributed X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy data reduction using Hadoop MapReduce

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faisal Khan ◽  
Suresh Narayanan ◽  
Roger Sersted ◽  
Nicholas Schwarz ◽  
Alec Sandy
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Photon Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Frame Rate ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Complex Materials ◽  
Photon Correlation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Recent Developments

Multi-speckle X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is a powerful technique for characterizing the dynamic nature of complex materials over a range of time scales. XPCS has been successfully applied to study a wide range of systems. Recent developments in higher-frame-rate detectors, while aiding in the study of faster dynamical processes, creates large amounts of data that require parallel computational techniques to process in near real-time. Here, an implementation of the multi-tau and two-time autocorrelation algorithms using the Hadoop MapReduce framework for distributed computing is presented. The system scales well with regard to the increase in the data size, and has been serving the users of beamline 8-ID-I at the Advanced Photon Source for near real-time autocorrelations for the past five years.

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