Polyelectrolyte Encapsulation and Confinement within Protein Cage-Inspired Nanocompartments.

ABSTRACT: Protein cages are nanocompartments with a well-defined structure and monodisperse size. They are composed of several individual subunits and can be categorized as viral and non-viral protein cages. Native viral cages often exhibit a cationic interior, which binds the anionic nucleic acid genome through electrostatic interactions leading to efficient encapsulation. Non-viral cages can carry various cargo, ranging from small molecules to inorganic nanoparticles. Both cage types can be functionalized at targeted locations through genetic engineering or chemical modification to entrap materials through interactions that are inaccessible to wild-type cages. Moreover, the limited number of constitutional subunits ease the modification efforts, because a single modification on the subunit can lea

SUBMITTER: Liu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8537137 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature