Researchers at Tokyo Tech have demonstrated that in-cell engineering is an effective method for creating functional protein crystals with promising catalytic properties. By harnessing genetically altered bacteria as a green synthesis platform, the researchers produced hybrid solid catalysts for artificial Protein crystals, like regular crystals, are well-ordered molecular structures with diverse properties and a huge potential for customization. They can assemble naturally from materials found within cells, which not only greatly reduces the synthesis costs but also lessens their environmental impact.
Although protein crystals are promising as catalysts because they can host various functional molecules, current techniques only enable the attachment of small molecules and simple proteins. Thus, it is imperative to find ways to produce protein crystals bearing both natural enzymes and synthetic functional molecules to tap their full potential for enzyme immobilization.
Against this backdrop, a team of researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) led by Professor Takafumi Ueno has developed an innovative strategy to produce hybrid solid catalysts based on protein crystals. As explained in their paper published in Nano Letters on 12 July 2023, their approach combines in-cell engineering and a simple in vitro process to produce catalysts for artificial photosynthesis.
The building block of the hybrid catalyst is a protein monomer derived from a
And we sure hope that these efforts will lead us to a greener future!
Reference: “In-Cell Engineering of Protein Crystals into Hybrid Solid Catalysts for Artificial Photosynthesis” by Tiezheng Pan, Basudev Maity, Satoshi Abe, Taiki Morita and Takafumi Ueno, 12 July 2023, Nano Letters.
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02355