Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials
Abstract Active biological molecules present a powerful, yet largely untapped, opportunity to impart autonomous regulation of materials. Because these systems can function robustly to regulate when and where chemical reactions occur, they have the ability to bring complex, life-like behavior to synt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55645-5 |
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| author | Gregor Leech Lauren Melcher Michelle Chiu Maya Nugent Shirlaine Juliano Lily Burton Janet Kang Soo Ji Kim Sourav Roy Leila Farhadi Jennifer L. Ross Moumita Das Michael J. Rust Rae M. Robertson-Anderson |
| author_facet | Gregor Leech Lauren Melcher Michelle Chiu Maya Nugent Shirlaine Juliano Lily Burton Janet Kang Soo Ji Kim Sourav Roy Leila Farhadi Jennifer L. Ross Moumita Das Michael J. Rust Rae M. Robertson-Anderson |
| author_sort | Gregor Leech |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Active biological molecules present a powerful, yet largely untapped, opportunity to impart autonomous regulation of materials. Because these systems can function robustly to regulate when and where chemical reactions occur, they have the ability to bring complex, life-like behavior to synthetic materials. Here, we achieve this design feat by using functionalized circadian clock proteins, KaiB and KaiC, to engineer time-dependent crosslinking of colloids. The resulting material self-assembles with programmable kinetics, producing macroscopic changes in material properties, via molecular assembly of KaiB-KaiC complexes. We show that colloid crosslinking depends strictly on the phosphorylation state of KaiC, with kinetics that are synced with KaiB-KaiC complexing. Our microscopic image analyses and computational models indicate that the stability of colloidal super-structures depends sensitively on the number of Kai complexes per colloid connection. Consistent with our model predictions, a high concentration stabilizes the material against dissolution after a robust self-assembly phase, while a low concentration allows for oscillatory material structure. This work introduces the concept of harnessing biological timers to control synthetic materials; and, more generally, opens the door to using protein-based reaction networks to endow synthetic systems with life-like functional properties. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba388a856c0c46a9a021c4ad2e90d62c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba388a856c0c46a9a021c4ad2e90d62c2025-01-05T12:39:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111210.1038/s41467-024-55645-5Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materialsGregor Leech0Lauren Melcher1Michelle Chiu2Maya Nugent3Shirlaine Juliano4Lily Burton5Janet Kang6Soo Ji Kim7Sourav Roy8Leila Farhadi9Jennifer L. Ross10Moumita Das11Michael J. Rust12Rae M. Robertson-Anderson13Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San DiegoSchool of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of TechnologyGraduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of ChicagoDepartment of Physics and Biophysics, University of San DiegoDepartment of Physics and Biophysics, University of San DiegoDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of ChicagoDepartment of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and Department of Physics, University of ChicagoDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of ChicagoDepartment of Physics, Syracuse UniversityDepartment of Physics, Syracuse UniversityDepartment of Physics, Syracuse UniversitySchool of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and Department of Physics, University of ChicagoDepartment of Physics and Biophysics, University of San DiegoAbstract Active biological molecules present a powerful, yet largely untapped, opportunity to impart autonomous regulation of materials. Because these systems can function robustly to regulate when and where chemical reactions occur, they have the ability to bring complex, life-like behavior to synthetic materials. Here, we achieve this design feat by using functionalized circadian clock proteins, KaiB and KaiC, to engineer time-dependent crosslinking of colloids. The resulting material self-assembles with programmable kinetics, producing macroscopic changes in material properties, via molecular assembly of KaiB-KaiC complexes. We show that colloid crosslinking depends strictly on the phosphorylation state of KaiC, with kinetics that are synced with KaiB-KaiC complexing. Our microscopic image analyses and computational models indicate that the stability of colloidal super-structures depends sensitively on the number of Kai complexes per colloid connection. Consistent with our model predictions, a high concentration stabilizes the material against dissolution after a robust self-assembly phase, while a low concentration allows for oscillatory material structure. This work introduces the concept of harnessing biological timers to control synthetic materials; and, more generally, opens the door to using protein-based reaction networks to endow synthetic systems with life-like functional properties.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55645-5 |
| spellingShingle | Gregor Leech Lauren Melcher Michelle Chiu Maya Nugent Shirlaine Juliano Lily Burton Janet Kang Soo Ji Kim Sourav Roy Leila Farhadi Jennifer L. Ross Moumita Das Michael J. Rust Rae M. Robertson-Anderson Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials Nature Communications |
| title | Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials |
| title_full | Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials |
| title_fullStr | Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials |
| title_short | Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials |
| title_sort | programming scheduled self assembly of circadian materials |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55645-5 |
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