Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons

Abstract Recent advances in protein design have ushered in an era of constructing intricate higher-order structures. Nonetheless, orchestrating the assembly of diverse protein units into cohesive artificial structures akin to biological assembly systems, especially in tubular forms, remains elusive....

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Main Authors: Masahiro Noji, Yukihiko Sugita, Yosuke Yamazaki, Makito Miyazaki, Yuta Suzuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62076-3
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author Masahiro Noji
Yukihiko Sugita
Yosuke Yamazaki
Makito Miyazaki
Yuta Suzuki
author_facet Masahiro Noji
Yukihiko Sugita
Yosuke Yamazaki
Makito Miyazaki
Yuta Suzuki
author_sort Masahiro Noji
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Recent advances in protein design have ushered in an era of constructing intricate higher-order structures. Nonetheless, orchestrating the assembly of diverse protein units into cohesive artificial structures akin to biological assembly systems, especially in tubular forms, remains elusive. To this end, we develop a methodology inspired by nature, which utilises two distinct protein units to create unique tubular structures under carefully designed conditions. These structures demonstrate dynamic flexibility similar to that of actin filaments, with cryo electron microscopy revealing diverse morphologies, like microtubules. By mimicking actin filaments, helical conformations are incorporated into tubular assemblies, thereby enriching their structural diversity. Notably, these assemblies can be reversibly disassembled and reassembled in response to environmental stimuli, including changes in salt concentration and temperature, mirroring the dynamic behaviour of natural systems. This methodology combines rational protein design with biophysical insights, leading to the creation of biomimetic, adaptable, and reversible higher-order assemblies. This approach deepens our understanding of protein assembly design and complex biological structures. Concurrently, it broadens the horizons of synthetic biology and material science, holding significant implications for unravelling life’s fundamental processes and enabling future applications.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-53c6c5737d834f17a61dc8b45dc2c9c82025-08-20T03:05:14ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-62076-3Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletonsMasahiro Noji0Yukihiko Sugita1Yosuke Yamazaki2Makito Miyazaki3Yuta Suzuki4Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceInstitute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto UniversityGraduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversityHakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto UniversityInstitute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto UniversityAbstract Recent advances in protein design have ushered in an era of constructing intricate higher-order structures. Nonetheless, orchestrating the assembly of diverse protein units into cohesive artificial structures akin to biological assembly systems, especially in tubular forms, remains elusive. To this end, we develop a methodology inspired by nature, which utilises two distinct protein units to create unique tubular structures under carefully designed conditions. These structures demonstrate dynamic flexibility similar to that of actin filaments, with cryo electron microscopy revealing diverse morphologies, like microtubules. By mimicking actin filaments, helical conformations are incorporated into tubular assemblies, thereby enriching their structural diversity. Notably, these assemblies can be reversibly disassembled and reassembled in response to environmental stimuli, including changes in salt concentration and temperature, mirroring the dynamic behaviour of natural systems. This methodology combines rational protein design with biophysical insights, leading to the creation of biomimetic, adaptable, and reversible higher-order assemblies. This approach deepens our understanding of protein assembly design and complex biological structures. Concurrently, it broadens the horizons of synthetic biology and material science, holding significant implications for unravelling life’s fundamental processes and enabling future applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62076-3
spellingShingle Masahiro Noji
Yukihiko Sugita
Yosuke Yamazaki
Makito Miyazaki
Yuta Suzuki
Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons
Nature Communications
title Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons
title_full Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons
title_fullStr Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons
title_full_unstemmed Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons
title_short Protein design of two-component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons
title_sort protein design of two component tubular assemblies similar to cytoskeletons
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62076-3
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AT yosukeyamazaki proteindesignoftwocomponenttubularassembliessimilartocytoskeletons
AT makitomiyazaki proteindesignoftwocomponenttubularassembliessimilartocytoskeletons
AT yutasuzuki proteindesignoftwocomponenttubularassembliessimilartocytoskeletons