Abstract
We have designed, synthesized, and purified a novel three-armed star polymer consisting of an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) followed by a negatively charged trimer-forming oligomerization domain at the C-terminus. In low salt conditions, the water-soluble trimers assemble into micellar particles as small as 25 nm in diameter when heated to temperatures above their transition temperature. The size of these micelles can be controlled by adjusting salt and cosurfactant concentrations. They are stable at elevated temperatures but will dissociate into the individual trimers when the temperature is again decreased below the transition temperature. Their behavior at high temperatures is quite different than typical ELP constructs, which initially form large aggregates followed by phase separation into a coacervate and soluble fraction. The polypeptide consists of 40 pentapeptide repeats of glycine−valine−glycine−valine−proline (GVGVP) followed by the 27 amino acid foldon domain. It is expressed in E. coli and p...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
