Chapter title |
Split-Intein Triggered Protein Hydrogels
|
---|---|
Chapter number | 11 |
Book title |
Split Inteins
|
Published in |
Methods in molecular biology, January 2017
|
DOI | 10.1007/978-1-4939-6451-2_11 |
Pubmed ID | |
Book ISBNs |
978-1-4939-6449-9, 978-1-4939-6451-2
|
Authors |
Miguel A. Ramirez, Zhilei Chen, Ramirez, Miguel A., Chen, Zhilei |
Abstract |
Proteins are nature's building blocks and indispensable in living organisms. Protein-based hydrogels have a wide variety of applications in research and biotechnology. In this chapter, we describe an intein-mediated protein hydrogel that utilizes two synthetic soluble protein block copolymers, each containing a subunit of a trimeric protein that serves as a cross-linker and one half of the naturally split DnaE intein from Nostoc punctiforme. Mixing of these two protein block copolymers initiates an intein trans-splicing reaction that constitutes a self-assembling polypeptide flanked by cross-linkers, triggering protein hydrogel formation. The generated hydrogels are highly stable under both acidic and basic conditions, and at temperatures up to 50 °C. In addition, these hydrogels are able to undergo rapid reassembly after shear-induced rupture. Incorporation of an appropriate binding motif into the protein block copolymers enables the convenient site-specific incorporation of functional globular proteins into the hydrogel network. |
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