Reversible non-stick behaviour of a bacterial protein polymer provides a tuneable molecular mimic for cell and tissue engineering

Adv Mater. 2014 May;26(17):2704-9, 2616. doi: 10.1002/adma.201304645. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Abstract

Yersina pestis, the bubonic plague bacterium, is coated with a polymeric protein hydrogel for protection from host defences. The protein, which is robust and non-stick, resembles structures found in many eukaryotic extracellular-matrix proteins. Cells grown on the natural polymer cannot adhere and grow poorly; however, when cell-adhesion motifs are inserted into the protein, the cells proliferate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adhesiveness
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Biomimetic Materials / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / chemistry*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Protein Engineering / methods
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • caf1 protein, Yersinia pestis