Designed proteins induce the formation of nanocage-containing extracellular vesicles.

ABSTRACT: Complex biological processes are often performed by self-organizing nanostructures comprising multiple classes of macromolecules, such as ribosomes (proteins and RNA) or enveloped viruses (proteins, nucleic acids and lipids). Approaches have been developed for designing self-assembling structures consisting of either nucleic acids or proteins, but strategies for engineering hybrid biological materials are only beginning to emerge. Here we describe the design of self-assembling protein nanocages that direct their own release from human cells inside small vesicles in a manner that resembles some viruses. We refer to these hybrid biomaterials as 'enveloped protein nanocages' (EPNs). Robust EPN biogenesis requires protein sequence elements that encode three distinct functions: membrane binding

SUBMITTER: Votteler J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5729044 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature