Projectdetails

Aim of the research project is to provide a proof of principle that one can design, encode and express in micro-organisms artificial genes, enabling the large-scale biotechnological production of complex polypeptide molecules, mimicking virus coat proteins, capable of encapsulating target double-stranded DNA molecules in order to protect these against biotic attack and degradation. The polypeptide ?designer proteins? should i) self assemble on poly(nucleic acid)s but be molecularly dispersed in the aqueous solvent in their absence, ii) provide colloidal stability to the poly(nucleic acid)-polypeptide complexes and iii) allow for straightforward functionalization of surface groups to facilitate and direct transport of the particles into living cells. In order to help design polypeptides that coat the DNA efficiently, we investigate what the structure of the designer polypeptides is in free solution and in what way that this structure changes when bound to DNA. For this purpose, we apply computer simulations and probe polypeptide-polypeptide and polypeptide-DNA interactions. Of significant importance, not only to the project but also in the broader context of the physics of viruses, is obtaining insight in the role that allostery is thought to play in the successful co-assembly of protein and DNA.