Construction of Protein Nanowires through Cucurbit[8]uril-based Highly Specific Host-Guest Interactions: An Approach to the Assembly of Functional Proteins

摘要

Protein nanostructures are of great interest in the field of bionics, owing not only to their biocompatible and biodegradable properties, but also to their high structural durability, which facilitates recycling. Some creative strategies have been developed to construct protein nanostructures based on molecular recognition, such as symmetry, metal ion induction, or supramolecular interactions. Some protein nanostructures, such as artificial protein nanowires, protein rings, and protein spheres haye been created by these strategies and applied in catalysis, tissue imaging, diagnostics, and therapeutic treatments. Among them, host-guest supramolecular interactions have provided desirable driving forces in a reversible and bioorthogonal manner. Although host-guest interactions have been successfully developed using protein-ligand interactions, such as biotin-streptavidin,dihydro-folate reductase-methotrexate,and lectin concanavalin A-mannopyranoside, the construction of functional protein nanostructures by small molecule host-guest interactions has rarely been explored.