Recombinant artificial forisomes provide ample quantities of smart biomaterials for use in technical devices

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2010 Oct;88(3):689-98. doi: 10.1007/s00253-010-2771-4. Epub 2010 Jul 28.

Abstract

Forisomes are mechanoproteins that undergo ATP-independent contraction-expansion cycles triggered by divalent cations, pH changes, and electrical stimuli. Although native forisomes from Medicago truncatula comprise a number of subunits encoded by separate genes, here we show that at least two of those subunits (MtSEO1 and MtSEO4) can assemble into homomeric forisome bodies that are functionally similar to their native, multimeric counterparts. We expressed these subunits in plants and yeast, resulting in the purification of large quantities of artificial forisomes with unique characteristics depending on the expression platform. These artificial forisomes were able to contract and expand in vitro like native forisomes and could respond to electrical stimulation when immobilized between interdigital transducer electrodes. These results indicate that recombinant artificial forisomes with specific characteristics can be prepared in large amounts and used as components of microscale and nanoscale devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Gene Fusion*
  • Biocompatible Materials / metabolism*
  • Contractile Proteins / metabolism
  • Genetic Vectors / isolation & purification
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Medicago truncatula / metabolism
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Contractile Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Plant Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins