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Exploring the nanoscale structure and assembly of a designed protein fibre

ReferenceBBS/B/04676/2
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Dek Woolfson
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Professor Louise Serpell
Institution University of Bristol
DepartmentBiochemistry
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 124,240
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/08/2005
End date 31/05/2007
Duration22 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 TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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