Award details

Exploring the nanoscale structure and assembly of a designed protein fibre

Reference	BBS/B/04676
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Dek Woolfson
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Louise Serpell
Institution	University of Sussex
Department	Biology and Environmental Science
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	196,925
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	04/05/2004
End date	03/08/2005
Duration	15 months

Abstract

We have designed and characterised a self-assembling fibre (SAF) comprising two peptides that co-assemble to form structures about 50 nm thick and tens of microns long. Peptide redesign has improved fibre formation, stability and structure. Intriguingly, the new fibres exhibit two novel features; namely, nanoscale ultrastructure and polar assembly. We propose to probe this structure and assembly using a combination of peptide design and synthesis; FT-IR spectroscopy and ROA; calorimetry; electron, fluorescence and atomic force microscopy; X-ray fibre diffraction and crystallography. An improved understanding of the SAFs should facilitate further engineering and their development for applications such as tissue and surface engineering.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BBS/B/04676/2 Exploring the nanoscale structure and assembly of a designed protein fibre

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