Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ruilian Qi, Fengting Lv, Yue Zeng, Qi Shen, Yiming Huang, Haotian Bai, Libing Liu, Shu Wang
Summary: To combat viral infectious diseases efficiently, it is crucial to develop broadly applicable countermeasures. Elaborating the relationship between antiviral agents and viruses can lead to the development of efficient antiviral systems. This study used conjugated polymer-based photodynamic therapy to inhibit RNA virus infections and assessed antiviral efficiency using a pseudotyped virus composed of SARS-CoV-2 envelope and luciferase RNA genome. Different cationic CPs showed varying photoinactivation effects, with PPV and PMNT exhibiting highly efficient photoinactivation derived from the complete degradation of spike proteins, nucleocapsid proteins, and nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2.
NPG ASIA MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pengchao Sun, Tim Scharnweber, Parvesh Wadhwani, Kersten S. Rabe, Christof M. Niemeyer
Summary: A DNA-based cell-responsive biohybrid interface was developed for spatially confined release of molecular cargo, utilizing tailored DNA-protein conjugates as gatekeepers specifically cleaved by matrix metalloproteases secreted by cancer cells. The biohybrid surface is modified by cells to release both MSN-bound gatekeeper proteins and encapsulated cargo peptide. The system's high modularity makes it promising for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, or other areas of nanobiotechnology.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elena Bencurova, Sergey Shityakov, Dominik Schaack, Martin Kaltdorf, Edita Sarukhanyan, Alexander Hilgarth, Christin Rath, Sergio Montenegro, Guenter Roth, Daniel Lopez, Thomas Dandekar
Summary: The rapid development of green and sustainable materials in the field of applied research has opened up new possibilities. Nanocellulose composites can be used as chassis for smart devices and can be applied in information storage and processing. The study evaluates four approaches for utilizing nanocellulose composites as information storage or processing devices, including the protection of information stored in DNA, controlling nucleotide-processing enzymes with light, rendering nanocellulose electronic, and miniaturizing and integrating nanocellulose chip devices.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Gaoshang Li, Yongnan Hu, Sizhu Pei, Jiajia Meng, Jiayu Wang, Ju Wang, Shuai Yue, Zhuan Wang, Shufeng Wang, Xinfeng Liu, Yuxiang Weng, Xubiao Peng, Qing Zhao
Summary: By recording ultrafast transient absorption spectra of three mutants of a rhodopsin mimic based on cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II in an acidic environment, this study investigates the excited-state dynamics of the all-trans protonated RSB. The experimental results suggest that aromatic residues near the b-ionone ring structure may help stabilize the AT-PRSB and slow down its isomerization rate, providing implications for designing rhodopsin-like proteins with significant infrared fluorescence.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marvin Asido, Rajiv K. Kar, Clara Nassrin Kriebel, Markus Braun, Clemens Glaubitz, Igor Schapiro, Josef Wachtveitl
Summary: A transient near-UV absorption signature was identified in Krokinobacter eikastus rhodopsin 2 (KR2) which could serve as a marker for retinal configuration. Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations revealed that this signature corresponds to S-0 -> S-3 and/or S-0 -> S-5 transitions, and these transitions show negligible spectral shift with changes in the protein environment. The study also explored potential optogenetic applications through near-UV quenching experiments, demonstrating ultrafast regeneration of the parent state of KR2.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shoha Ochiai, Yuki Ichikawa, Sahoko Tomida, Yuji Furutani
Summary: Microbial rhodopsins are light-receptive proteins with various functions triggered by the photoisomerization of the retinal chromophore. The covalent bond linking the lysine residue and the protein backbone is not necessary for microbial rhodopsin function. However, a covalent bond at Lys-255 is important for the stable binding of the retinal chromophore and formation of an O intermediate to achieve light-driven Na+ pump function in KR2.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pooja Singh, Shelly Singh, Neena Jaggi, Ki-Hyun Kim, Pooja Devi
Summary: Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is a photoactive protein commonly used in various applications such as solar cells, fuel cells, and biosensors due to its stability and proton-release characteristics. Its potential for hydrogen production through water splitting makes it an attractive platform for sustainable energy economy. Recent advances in bR-based hybrid electrodes for solar cells, water-splitting devices, and fuel cells are summarized in this review.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hikaru Fukazawa, Yoshiko Okada-Shudo
Summary: Researchers have developed an artificial ganglion cell receptive field using a protein-based device that can emulate excitation and inhibition in neural responses, successfully detecting image edges and brightness illusions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Keisei Shibata, Kazumasa Oda, Tomohiro Nishizawa, Yuji Hazama, Ryohei Ono, Shunki Takaramoto, Reza Bagherzadeh, Hiromu Yaw, Osamu Nureki, Keiichi Inoue, Hudefumim Akiyama
Summary: Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels that can control neuronal activity with high temporal resolution. The mechanism of how their channels open and close is still unknown. This study investigated the structural changes in the retinal chromophore of ChR C1C2 and the factors that limit the kinetics of the channel gating. The results showed that the retinal chromophore twists upon RSB deprotonation, causing the surrounding helices to move and open the channel, and the RSB reprotonation rate-limits the channel closing.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Yang, Frances H. Arnold
Summary: Researchers are making efforts to expand the catalytic repertoire of enzymes to include powerful reactions previously only known in small-molecule catalysis. By leveraging the catalytic promiscuity of P450 enzymes, a range of carbene and nitrene transferases with excellent activity towards new-to-nature reactions have been evolved.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marta Patrian, Mattia Nieddu, Jesus A. Banda-Vazquez, David Gutierrez-Armayor, Gustavo Gonzalez-Gaitano, Juan Pablo Fuenzalida-Werner, Ruben D. Costa
Summary: Implementing proteins in optoelectronics offers a sustainable solution to replace environmentally unfriendly and/or toxic components without sacrificing device performance. However, their native activity is easily lost under non-native environments and severe stress during device fabrication and operation. This study presents a genetically-encoded macro-oligomerization strategy to promote protein-protein interaction and enhance stability, allowing the integration of proteins into polymer-based materials for optoelectronics. Protein-based light-emitting diodes with enhanced performance and stability are fabricated using this strategy. The oligomerization concept serves as a solid bridge between biological systems and materials/components in bio-optoelectronics.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kouhei Nishikawa, Ryosuke Kuroiwa, Jun Tamogami, Masashi Unno, Tomotsumi Fujisawa
Summary: Raman optical activity (ROA) spectroscopy was used to study the conformation of the retinal chromophore in sensory rhodopsin II (SRII). The observed conformation did not agree with the crystal structures, indicating that consistency with chiro-optical properties is a key criterion for accurate prediction and evaluation of chromophore conformation in retinal-binding proteins.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laureen Moreaud, Sebastien Viollet, Agathe Urvoas, Marie Valerio-Lepiniec, Agnes Mesneau, Ines Li de la Sierra-Gallay, Jessalyn Miller, Malika Ouldali, Cecile Marcelot, Stephanie Balor, Vanessa Soldan, Cristelle Meriadec, Franck Artzner, Erik Dujardin, Philippe Minard
Summary: A versatile strategy for creating inducible protein assembly with predefined geometry is demonstrated in this article. The assembly is triggered by a binding protein that staples two identical protein bricks together in a predictable spatial conformation. This work opens up possibilities for designing and fabricating multiscale protein origami with arbitrarily programmed shapes and chemical functions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anne P. Rasmussen, Elisabeth Gruber, Ricky Teiwes, Mordechai Sheves, Lars H. Andersen
Summary: This study investigates the effects of steric constraints on the spectroscopy and isomerization dynamics of retinal derivatives in comparison to protonated Schiff-base retinal. The results show significant alterations in both spectroscopy and isomerization speed due to steric constraints.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tao Jiang, Biao-Feng Zeng, Bintian Zhang, Longhua Tang
Summary: Biomolecular electronics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, nanoscience, and engineering to integrate life sciences and molecular electronics. Protein-based bioelectronics, or proteotronics, aims to design new biomolecular electronic platforms for understanding protein-mediated electronic charge transport. Recent advances have been made in physical electron transport mechanisms, device fabrication methodologies, and applications in protein-based bioelectronics, including single protein-bridged electrical junction fabrication strategies and high and dynamic electron transport. Future perspectives and challenges are also discussed.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2023)
