Versatile display scaffolds for proteins
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsScott Eugene Lindner, Susan Hafenstein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are processes and materials for solving biological or structural information about proteins or other organic molecules. The processes capitalize on a rigid multimeric nanocage formed from self-assembling substructure proteins. The processes and materials allow for recognition and tight, optionally covalent, bonding of any protein molecule with a tag complementary to a capture sequence on the nanocage. The processes and materials may be used to obtain biological or structural information by cryo-electron microscopy and overcome prior limitations of target protein size or salt concentration.
Claims11
A process of solving a three-dimensional structure of a target protein comprising:
- non-genetically associating a target protein with a preformed multimeric self-assembling protein structure to form a target complex, wherein the multimeric self-assembling protein structure comprises a plurality of protein substructures, wherein each of the protein substructures comprises an amino acid sequence that is 70% or greater identical to any one of SEQ ID NOs:
- 1-6, and
- subjecting said target complex to cryo-electron microscopy whereby the multimeric self-assembling protein structure serves as a scaffold for solution of a three-dimensional structure of said target protein, optionally wherein said target protein has a molecular weight of 200 kilodaltons or less, and optionally a value of resolution of said three-dimensional structure is less than 20 angstroms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.