Assembly of Matryoshka-Type Protein Nanocages for Compartmentalized Oxygen Sensing

IF 9.6 1区材料科学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Nano Letters Pub Date : 2025-03-10 DOI:10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c06699

Wei Zhou, Shaojie Ma, Ruimin Gao, Yufu Tang, Hui Zhang, Ao Liang, Mengsi Yang, Chun Ma, Quli Fan, Xian-En Zhang, Feng Li

{"title":"Assembly of Matryoshka-Type Protein Nanocages for Compartmentalized Oxygen Sensing","authors":"Wei Zhou, Shaojie Ma, Ruimin Gao, Yufu Tang, Hui Zhang, Ao Liang, Mengsi Yang, Chun Ma, Quli Fan, Xian-En Zhang, Feng Li","doi":"10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c06699","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Oxygen permeability is a critical property of protein nanocages (PNCs) that impacts or dictates the functions of PNCs. However, it remains challenging to determine it experimentally. Here, we report compartmentalized oxygen sensing inside PNCs by assembling matryoshka-type structures through interfacial engineering, namely, one PNC containing another smaller one functionalized with small-molecule oxygen probes. Oxygen in the lumen of the outer PNCs can be probed conveniently via phosphorescence spectrometry. This method enabled the analysis of two representative PNCs, MS2 virus-like particles and <i>Thermotoga maritima</i> encapsulin, revealing the former is oxygen permeable, while the latter is oxygen impermeable. This study establishes a general approach for measuring the oxygen permeability of PNC shells, which can provide an experimental basis for understanding the working mechanisms of PNCs and inspire applications like oxygen-sensitive or oxygen-responsive sensing, catalysis, and delivery. Also, the tunable nested PNCs may serve as platforms for designing hierarchical or compartmentalized devices or organelles.","PeriodicalId":53,"journal":{"name":"Nano Letters","volume":"56 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nano Letters","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c06699","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Oxygen permeability is a critical property of protein nanocages (PNCs) that impacts or dictates the functions of PNCs. However, it remains challenging to determine it experimentally. Here, we report compartmentalized oxygen sensing inside PNCs by assembling matryoshka-type structures through interfacial engineering, namely, one PNC containing another smaller one functionalized with small-molecule oxygen probes. Oxygen in the lumen of the outer PNCs can be probed conveniently via phosphorescence spectrometry. This method enabled the analysis of two representative PNCs, MS2 virus-like particles and Thermotoga maritima encapsulin, revealing the former is oxygen permeable, while the latter is oxygen impermeable. This study establishes a general approach for measuring the oxygen permeability of PNC shells, which can provide an experimental basis for understanding the working mechanisms of PNCs and inspire applications like oxygen-sensitive or oxygen-responsive sensing, catalysis, and delivery. Also, the tunable nested PNCs may serve as platforms for designing hierarchical or compartmentalized devices or organelles.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

透氧性是蛋白质纳米笼（PNCs）的一个关键特性，它影响或决定着 PNCs 的功能。然而，通过实验确定这一特性仍具有挑战性。在这里，我们报告了通过界面工程组装马特洛什卡型结构，在 PNCs 内部实现分区氧传感的情况，即一个 PNC 包含另一个较小的 PNC，并用小分子氧探针进行功能化。外层 PNC 内腔中的氧气可通过磷光光谱法方便地进行探测。利用这种方法分析了两种具有代表性的 PNC--MS2 病毒样颗粒和 Thermotoga maritima 包囊蛋白，发现前者具有透氧性，而后者不透氧。这项研究建立了一种测量 PNC 外壳透氧性的通用方法，可为了解 PNC 的工作机制提供实验基础，并为氧敏感或氧响应传感、催化和传输等应用提供启发。此外，可调嵌套 PNC 还可作为设计分层或分区装置或细胞器的平台。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Nano Letters 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

16.80

自引率

2.80%

发文量

1182

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Nano Letters serves as a dynamic platform for promptly disseminating original results in fundamental, applied, and emerging research across all facets of nanoscience and nanotechnology. A pivotal criterion for inclusion within Nano Letters is the convergence of at least two different areas or disciplines, ensuring a rich interdisciplinary scope. The journal is dedicated to fostering exploration in diverse areas, including: - Experimental and theoretical findings on physical, chemical, and biological phenomena at the nanoscale - Synthesis, characterization, and processing of organic, inorganic, polymer, and hybrid nanomaterials through physical, chemical, and biological methodologies - Modeling and simulation of synthetic, assembly, and interaction processes - Realization of integrated nanostructures and nano-engineered devices exhibiting advanced performance - Applications of nanoscale materials in living and environmental systems Nano Letters is committed to advancing and showcasing groundbreaking research that intersects various domains, fostering innovation and collaboration in the ever-evolving field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.