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.
Claims29
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, 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.
(canceled)
8-11. (canceled)
The process of claim 11 wherein the multimer is a 60-mer or forms a dodecahedron.
(canceled)
15-16. (canceled)
18-21. (canceled)
23-24. (canceled)
26-27. (canceled)
A three dimensional protein structure comprising:
- a multimeric self-assembling nanocage, the nanocage comprising a plurality of protein substructures, one or more of the protein substructures comprising a linker and a capture sequence on an N-terminus;
- and
- a target protein non-genetically fused to said protein substructure, the target protein comprising a tag, the tag complementary to the capture sequence so that an association between the tag and the capture sequence covalently bonds said target protein to said protein substructure, or non-covalently bonds said target protein to said protein substructure with a KD or 10−12 M or lower.
29-48. (canceled)
54-55. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.