Nanomechanics of streptavidin hubs for molecular materials.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Kim M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3837471 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Nanomechanics of streptavidin hubs for molecular materials.
Kim Minkyu M Wang Chien-Chung CC Benedetti Fabrizio F Rabbi Mahir M Bennett Vann V Marszalek Piotr E PE
Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) 20111121 47
A new strategy is reported for creating protein-based nanomaterials by genetically fusing large polypeptides to monomeric streptavidin and exploiting the propensity of streptavidin monomers(SM) to self-assemble into stable tetramers. We have characterized the mechanical properties of streptavidin-linked structures and measured, for the first time, the mechanical strength of streptavidin tetramers themselves. Using streptavidin tetramers as molecular hubs offers a unique opportunity to create a v ...[more]
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