Calibration between trigger and color: Neutralization of a genetically encoded coulombic switch and dynamic arrest precisely tune reflectin assembly.

ABSTRACT: Reflectin proteins are widely distributed in reflective structures in cephalopods. However, only in loliginid squids are they and the subwavelength photonic structures they control dynamically tunable, driving changes in skin color for camouflage and communication. The reflectins are block copolymers with repeated canonical domains interspersed with cationic linkers. Neurotransmitter-activated signal transduction culminates in catalytic phosphorylation of the tunable reflectins' cationic linkers; the resulting charge neutralization overcomes coulombic repulsion to progressively allow condensation, folding, and assembly into multimeric spheres of tunable well-defined size and low polydispersity. Here, we used dynamic light scattering, transmission EM, CD, atomic force microscopy, and fluori

SUBMITTER: Levenson R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6851332 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature