A de novo protein catalyzes the synthesis of semiconductor quantum dots.

ABSTRACT: De novo proteins constructed from novel amino acid sequences are distinct from proteins that evolved in nature. Construct K (ConK) is a binary-patterned de novo designed protein that rescues Escherichia coli from otherwise toxic concentrations of copper. ConK was recently found to bind the cofactor PLP (pyridoxal phosphate, the active form of vitamin B₆). Here, we show that ConK catalyzes the desulfurization of cysteine to H₂S, which can be used to synthesize CdS nanocrystals in solution. The CdS nanocrystals are approximately 3 nm, as measured by transmission electron microscope, with optical properties similar to those seen in chemically synthesized quantum dots. The CdS nanocrystals synthesized using ConK have slower growth rates and a different growth mecha

SUBMITTER: Spangler LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9907092 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature