RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Triggered reversible disassembly of an engineered protein nanocage
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.04.19.440480
DO 10.1101/2021.04.19.440480
A1 Jesse A. Jones
A1 Ajitha S. Cristie-David
A1 Michael P. Andreas
A1 Tobias W. Giessen
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/19/2021.04.19.440480.abstract
AB Protein nanocages play crucial roles in sub-cellular compartmentalization and spatial control in all domains of life and have been used as biomolecular tools for applications in biocatalysis, drug delivery, and bionanotechnology. The ability to control their assembly state under physiological conditions would further expand their practical utility. To gain such control, we introduced a peptide capable of triggering conformational change at a key structural position in the largest known encapsulin nanocompartment. We report the structure of the resulting engineered nanocage and demonstrate its ability to on-demand disassemble and reassemble under physiological conditions. We demonstrate its capacity for in vivo encapsulation of proteins of choice while also demonstrating in vitro cargo loading capabilities. Our results represent a functionally robust addition to the nanocage toolbox and a novel approach for controlling protein nanocage disassembly and reassembly under mild conditions.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.