Microbial production of megadalton titin yields fibers with advantageous mechanical properties.

ABSTRACT: Manmade high-performance polymers are typically non-biodegradable and derived from petroleum feedstock through energy intensive processes involving toxic solvents and byproducts. While engineered microbes have been used for renewable production of many small molecules, direct microbial synthesis of high-performance polymeric materials remains a major challenge. Here we engineer microbial production of megadalton muscle titin polymers yielding high-performance fibers that not only recapture highly desirable properties of natural titin (i.e., high damping capacity and mechanical recovery) but also exhibit high strength, toughness, and damping energy - outperforming many synthetic and natural polymers. Structural analyses and molecular modeling suggest these properties derive from unique inte

SUBMITTER: Bowen CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8405620 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature