Yang, G.; Hu, R.; Ding, H.; Kochovski, Z.; Mei, S.; Lu, Y.; Ma, Y.; Chen, G.; Jiang, M.: CO2-switchable response of protein microtubules: behaviour and mechanism. Materials Chemistry Frontiers 2 (2018), p. 1642-1646
10.1039/C8QM00245B
Abstract:
Recently, we proposed a small molecular ‘‘inducing ligand’’ strategy to assemble proteins into highlyordered structures via dual non-covalent interactions, i.e. carbohydrate–protein interaction and dimerization of Rhodamine B. Using this approach, artificial protein microtubules were successfully constructed. In this study, we find that these microtubules exhibit a perfect CO2 responsiveness; assembly and disassembly of these microtubules were nicely controlled by the alternative passage of CO2 and N2. Upon the injection of CO2, a negative net-charged SBA turns into a neutral or positive net-charged SBA, which elongated, to some extent, the effective distance between SBA and Rhodamine B, resulting in the disassociation of the Rhodamine B dimer. Further experimental and simulation results reveal that the CO2-responsive mechanism differs from that of solubility change of the previously reported CO2-responsive synthetic materials.