Reversible and size-controlled assembly of reflectin proteins using a charged azobenzene photoswitch.

ABSTRACT: Disordered proteins often undergo a stimuli-responsive, disorder-to-order transition which facilitates dynamic processes that modulate the physiological activities and material properties of cells, such as strength, chemical composition, and reflectance. It remains challenging to gain rapid and spatiotemporal control over such disorder-to-order transitions, which limits the incorporation of these proteins into novel materials. The reflectin protein is a cationic, disordered protein whose assembly is responsible for dynamic color camouflage in cephalopods. Stimuli-responsive control of reflectin's assembly would enable the design of biophotonic materials with tunable color. Herein, a novel, multivalent azobenzene photoswitch is shown to be an effective and non-invasive strategy for co-assem

SUBMITTER: Tobin CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11339800 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature