By exploiting principles of symmetry that are shared by nearly all natural self-assembling structures, new methods have been developed for creating novel proteins that self-assemble to form a variety of complex, symmetric architectures. Recent successful designs include hollow protein cages composed of many identical subunits in cubic arrangements. Symmetric materials that extend by growth in two or three dimensions are also possible. The various nanocontainers and nanomaterials that can be engineered offer new prospects for applications in synthetic biology, medicine, and nanotechnology. Design principles and strategies will be discussed, along with recent progress.

Designing symmetric protein cages and nanoscale materials

254th National Meeting (2017)

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