Efficient encapsulation of proteins with random copolymers

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Trung Dac, Qiao, Baofu, Olvera de la Cruz, Monica
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences 2018
• Subjects: Physical Sciences; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6042061/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29895685; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1806207115

Inside cells of living organisms, aggregates rich in disordered proteins organize the local environment to promote cellular functions. These membraneless organelles are able to concentrate enzymes and biomolecules to regulate interactions via the multiple conformations and compositions of disordered proteins. The interior of these organelles seems to behave akin to organic solvents. This opens the possibility of assembling synthetic organelles using random copolymers that mimic disordered proteins to disperse and stabilize enzymatic proteins in different environments, including organic solvents. Here, we demonstrate that random copolymers with solvophobic and solvophilic groups can encapsulate numerous proteins, including Candida antarctica lipase B, subtilisin, cutinase, and pseudolysin, in basically any solvent. These aggregates are promising constituents of synthetic membraneless organelles.