Split intein mediated polymerization and production of mussel foot adhesive protein materials

A method for producing a synthetic Mfp5 mussel foot protein oligomer, the method comprising:

• fusing an N-terminal split intein (IntN) to a first Mfp5 repeat to produce a Mfp5-IntN fusion protein, wherein the first Mfp5 repeat is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 15 and SEQ ID NO:
• 16, and wherein the IntN is an N-terminal Cfa split intein;
• fusing a C-terminal split intein (IntC) to a second Mfp5 repeat to produce an IntC-Mfp5 fusion protein, wherein the second Mfp5 repeat is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 15 and SEQ ID NO:
• 16, and wherein the IntC is a C-terminal Cfa split intein;
• and
• mixing the Mfp5-IntN fusion protein and the IntC-Mfp5 fusion protein to produce the synthetic Mfp5 mussel foot protein oligomer.

A system for producing a synthetic Mfp5 mussel foot protein adhesive, the system comprising:

• a Mfp5-IntN fusion protein, formed from an N-terminal split intein-fused Mfp5 repeat;
• and
• an IntC-Mfp5 fusion protein, formed from a C-terminal split intein-fused Mfp5 repeat;
• wherein the Mfp5-IntN fusion protein is produced by fusing an N-terminal split intein (IntN) to a first Mfp5 repeat, and wherein the IntC-Mfp5 fusion protein is produced by fusing a C-terminal split intein (IntC) to a second Mfp5 repeat;
• wherein the first Mfp5 repeat is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 15 and SEQ ID NO:
• 16;
• and
• wherein the second Mfp5 repeat is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 15 and SEQ ID NO:
• 16.