Designed and biologically active 2D and 3D protein lattices - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Designed and biologically active 2D and 3D protein latticesDMR 19059202021 Intellectual MeritOleg Gang, Columbia UniversityAssembly of designed and bioactive protein arrays. Encapsulation of ferritin inside designed DNA octahedra is followed by assembly of these DNA-ferritin voxels into prescribed 2D and 3D lattices. Ferritins preserve their bioactivity when assembled into designed arrays.The work establishes a general strategy for creating designed 2D and 3D ordered arrays of bio-active proteins using a DNA programmable assembly.Proteins (ferritins) are controllably placed into the targeted locations of nanoscale DNA wireframes (octahedra), forming a nanoscale building block, - a “protein voxel”. Protein voxels are programmed by DNA strands at the octahedra vertices to assemble into desired 2D and 3D lattices, forming designed bio-active protein arrays. The iron release from the ferritins in arrays was demonstrated.Cryo-electron microscopy and tomography imaged the formed protein voxels and protein arrays in 3D.Small-angle x-ray scattering probed a structure of protein lattices in-situ, as well as monitored a triggered release of irons from ferritins, which maintained a lattice order during this process.Nature Communications, 12, 3702 (2021)

2. DMR 19059202021 Broader ImpactsDesigned and biologically active 2D and 3D protein latticesOleg Gang, Columbia UniversityRationally building protein-based materials which are biologically active and organized as desired is an outstanding challenge for enabling cell-free bio-systems and novel material types, and for a broad range of bio-nano applications. The developed approach for protein assembly offers a rational strategy for fabrication of designed protein materials, with potential to integrate multiple types of proteins while controlling their placement with nanometer precision. The work demonstrates a methodology for creating designed 2D and 3D organizations from functional and bio-active proteins using DNA as programmable nano-tool for controlling protein assembly process. The established approach can be used for creating novel classes of biologically and chemically active nanomaterials, bio-catalytic systems, and for diverse nanomedicine biomaterial applications. The desired protein lattices can be formed by programming protein placement inside of DNA frames and by assembly frames as prescribed by DNA-encoded vertices.Nature Communications, 12, 3702 (2021)