Self-assembly of the chaperonin GroEL nanocage induced at submicellar detergent.

ABSTRACT: Protein nanoassemblies possess unique advantage in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, biocatalysis and vaccine development. Despite recent accomplishment in atomic structure data, the underlying molecular mechanism of protein self-assembly remains elusive, where considerable heterogeneity is often involved. Here we use E. coli chaperonin GroEL, a tetradecameric protein with a molecular weight of 805 kDa, to probe its transformation from cage-like oligomers to protein nanofibers. We show that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a widely-used protein denaturant, at submicellar concentration binds to and causes partial distortion of GroEL apical domain. Subsequently, the GroEL apical domain with altered secondary structural content converts the GroEL oligomers into modular structural un

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4085630 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature