Computational design of symmetric proteins: rounding up evolution of the propeller proteins

The host laboratory recently made 6-fold and 8-fold symmetric circular proteins using computational biomolecular modelling techniques. The 6-fold symmetric protein called Pizza has promising properties for use in nano-technology. This Pizza protein was also redesigned to coordinate metal ions, thus forming the smallest nanocrystal reported to this date. In this project, I will aim to design other symmetric proteins with a different rotational symmetry using similar computational design methods. In doing so I will expand the toolbox of self-assembling protein building blocks. Furthermore, the properties of these designed proteins will be studied with multiple techniques to improve our understanding of their stability when used for applications. I will combine them to form self-assembling platonic protein cages. These complexes may have a wide variety of applications ranging from therapeutically drug delivery to bio-electronics.

Jaar van publicatie:2021