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Twisted rectangular subunits self-assemble into a ferritin-like capsule

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Davies, Jack 
Ronson, Tanya 

Abstract

The vertices of polyhedral protein capsules are spanned by multiple capsule-forming protein subunits, thus enclosing more volume and larger cargoes than if single proteins connect vertices directly. Application of protein cage design principles to synthetic analogues would allow a given ligand to enclose a greater volume. Here we report the self-assembly of a simple tetramine subcomponent into a tetrahedral metal-organic capsule, with each face of the capsule composed of three ligand panels. The edges of the capsule are 31.8 Å in length — double the distance that can be spanned by a single subcomponent. The self-assembly rules followed by this system are programmed into the tetramine — it twists out of planarity in its lowest-energy configuration, thus favouring the large capsule over a simpler cube-like architecture. Unlike other large metal-organic capsules, the cavity of this new capsule is enclosed and the structure was observed to bind large dianionic guests.

Description

Keywords

3403 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, 34 Chemical Sciences

Journal Title

Chem

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2451-9308
2451-9294

Volume Title

Publisher

Cell Press
Sponsorship
European Research Council (695009)
EPSRC (EP/T031603/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P027067/1)
European Research Council

Version History

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VersionDateSummary
2024-01-03 14:05:11
Published version added
1*
2022-01-11 00:31:04
* Selected version