Emergence of Elastic Properties in a Minimalist Resilin‐Derived Heptapeptide upon Bromination. Issue 32 (20th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pizzi, Andrea; Sori, Lorenzo; Pigliacelli, Claudia; Gautieri, Alfonso; Andolina, Clara; Bergamaschi, Greta; Gori, Alessandro; Panine, Pierre; Grande, Antonio Mattia; Linder, Markus B.; Baldelli Bombelli, Francesca; Soncini, Monica; Metrangolo, Pierangelo
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 18:Issue 32(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-06-20
• Subjects: bromination -- elastomers -- halogen bonding -- peptides -- resilin -- self‐assembly -- supramolecular chemistry; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202200807
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Bromination is herein exploited to promote the emergence of elastic behavior in a short peptide—SDSYGAP—derived from resilin, a rubber‐like protein exerting its role in the jumping and flight systems of insects. Elastic and resilient hydrogels are obtained, which also show self‐healing behavior, thanks to the promoted non‐covalent interactions that limit deformations and contribute to the structural recovery of the peptide‐based hydrogel. In particular, halogen bonds may stabilize the β‐sheet organization working as non‐covalent cross‐links between nearby peptide strands. Importantly, the unmodified peptide (i.e., wild type) does not show such properties. Thus, SDSY(3, 5‐Br)GAP is a novel minimalist peptide elastomer. Abstract : Resilin is a natural elastomeric protein that finds application in fields such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. A short repeating characteristic sequence of resilin is used here to engineer a small oligopeptide with elastomeric properties similar to those of the whole protein. This is possible through the halogenation of the sequence by enhancing the intermolecular interactions, favoring self‐assembly.