A Metal Organic Framework with Spherical Protein Nodes: Rational Chemical Design of 3D Protein Crystals

J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Sep 16;137(36):11598-601. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b07463. Epub 2015 Sep 3.

Abstract

We describe here the construction of a three-dimensional, porous, crystalline framework formed by spherical protein nodes that assemble into a prescribed lattice arrangement through metal-organic linker-directed interactions. The octahedral iron storage enzyme, ferritin, was engineered in its C3 symmetric pores with tripodal Zn coordination sites. Dynamic light scattering and crystallographic studies established that this Zn-ferritin construct could robustly self-assemble into the desired bcc-type crystals upon coordination of a ditopic linker bearing hydroxamic acid functional groups. This system represents the first example of a ternary protein-metal-organic crystalline framework whose formation is fully dependent on each of its three components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • Dynamic Light Scattering
  • Metals / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proteins / chemistry*

Substances

  • Metals
  • Proteins

Associated data

  • PDB/5CMQ
  • PDB/5CMR