Creating Novel Bio-Adhesives using Genetically Programmed Protein Assembly

Dr. Ewan Main (primary)
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
QMUL
Dr. James Garnett (secondary)
Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions (CHMI), Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences
KCL

Abstract

We will use genetically programmed intein-mediated protein ligation to assemble specific protein modules from molluscs/bacterial biofilms into novel adhesive fibres and gels. This will be achieved by combining our exclusive/innovative recombinant fusion protein system and our knowledge on bacterial biofilm/mollusc adhesion proteins. Utilising the recombinant fusion protein system, we will be able to directionally self-assemble protein modules into the desired bio-adhesive. By combining fusions correctly, predictable arrays of adhesive fibres and gels will be formed with controllable properties/architectures. This technology offers a low-cost highly tuneable platform technology to produce novel adhesives.


References

1 Wright, J.N., Wong, W.L., Harvey, J.A., Garnett, J.A., Itzhaki, L.S. & Main, E.R.G. (2019) “Scalable geometrically designed protein cages assembled via genetically encoded split Inteins.” Structure 27, 776-84.
2 Harvey, J., Itzhaki, L.S. & Main E.R.G. (2018) “Programmed Protein Self-Assembly Driven by Genetically Encoded Intein-Mediated Native Chemical Ligation.” ACS Synth Biol. 7 (4), 1067-1074.
3 Phillips, J. J.; Millership, C.; Main, E. R. Angewandte Chemie 2012, 51, 13132
4 Garnett, J. A.; Martinez-Santos, V. I.; Saldana, Z.; Pape, T.; Hawthorne, W.; Chan, J.; Simpson, P. J.; Cota, E.; Puente, J. L.; Giron, J. A.; Matthews, S. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012, 109, 3950.
5 Main, E. R.; Phillips, J. J.; Millership, C. Biochem Soc Trans 2013, 41, 1152.


BBSRC Area
Molecules, cells and industrial biotechnology
Area of Biology
BiotechnologyStructural Biology
Techniques & Approaches
BiochemistryEngineeringMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologyMolecular Biology