Filamentous chaperone protein-based hydrogel stabilizes enzymes against thermal inactivation

Chem Commun (Camb). 2021 Jun 3;57(45):5511-5513. doi: 10.1039/d1cc01288f.

Abstract

We report a filamentous chaperone-based protein hydrogel capable of stabilizing enzymes against thermal inactivation. The hydrogel backbone consists of a thermostable chaperone protein, the gamma-prefoldin (γPFD) from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, which self-assembles into a fibrous structure. Specific coiled-coil interactions engineered into the wildtype γPFD trigger the formation of a cross-linked network of protein filaments. The structure of the filamentous chaperone is preserved through the designed coiled-coil interactions. The resulting hydrogel enables entrapped enzymes to retain greater activity after exposure to high temperatures, presumably by virtue of the inherent chaperone activity of the γPFD.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Methanocaldococcus / chemistry*
  • Molecular Chaperones / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Stability

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Hydrogels
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • prefoldin