Protein-directed self-assembly of a fullerene crystal

Kook-Han Kim, Dong-Kyun Ko, Yong-Tae Kim, Nam Hyeong Kim, Jaydeep Paul, Shao-Qing Zhang, Christopher B. Murray, Rudresh Acharya (), William F. DeGrado (), Yong Ho Kim () and Gevorg Grigoryan ()
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Kook-Han Kim: SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University
Dong-Kyun Ko: New Jersey Institute of Technology
Yong-Tae Kim: SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University
Nam Hyeong Kim: SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University
Jaydeep Paul: School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research
Shao-Qing Zhang: University of California
Christopher B. Murray: University of Pennsylvania
Rudresh Acharya: School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research
William F. DeGrado: University of California
Yong Ho Kim: SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University
Gevorg Grigoryan: Dartmouth College

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Learning to engineer self-assembly would enable the precise organization of molecules by design to create matter with tailored properties. Here we demonstrate that proteins can direct the self-assembly of buckminsterfullerene (C60) into ordered superstructures. A previously engineered tetrameric helical bundle binds C60 in solution, rendering it water soluble. Two tetramers associate with one C60, promoting further organization revealed in a 1.67-Å crystal structure. Fullerene groups occupy periodic lattice sites, sandwiched between two Tyr residues from adjacent tetramers. Strikingly, the assembly exhibits high charge conductance, whereas both the protein-alone crystal and amorphous C60 are electrically insulating. The affinity of C60 for its crystal-binding site is estimated to be in the nanomolar range, with lattices of known protein crystals geometrically compatible with incorporating the motif. Taken together, these findings suggest a new means of organizing fullerene molecules into a rich variety of lattices to generate new properties by design.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11429

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