Project Details
Chemoselective DNA conjugation of proteins to study multienzyme clomplexes
Subject Area
Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
Term
from 2012 to 2016
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 223269940
This project concerns the development of a generic platform to generate multfunctional protein constructs useful for interrogation of biological systems. The platform technology is based on the combination of chemoselective protein ligation methods and structural DNA nanotechnology. In particular, we will establish the chemoenzymatic ligation of recombinant proteins derived from multimodular Polyketide Synthases (PKS) with DNA or PNA oligonucleotides, which are derivatized with a short peptide tag, serving as the ligation substrate of bacterial transpeptidase Sortase. The resulting DNA-/PNA-tagged PKS modules will be assembled by Watson-Crick base pairing in homogeneous solution and, in particular, on the surface of two-dimensional nucleic acid scaffolds generated by the DNA origami technique. In a highly modular approach, supramolecular multienzyme complexes will be built, in which the spatial configuration of the PKS domains is controlled by the DNA scaffold with nanometer precision. On the one hand, this project will contribute to the detailed understanding of the spatial organization, conformational flexibility and other fundamental principles governing multienzyme complexes. On the other hand, the platform developed here will enable ready access to numerous spatially well-defined multifunctional protein complexes for mimicking, manipulation and analysis of natural occuring supramolecular assemblies involved in gene regulation, signal transduction, division, or other cellular function and traits.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes