Genetically engineered proteins represent a new promising class of biomaterials that overcome the disadvantages of naturally derived biopolymers (potential pathogens transmission, immune reactions, etc). These engineered macromolecules contain repeated natural sequence motifs that induce a regular structure and self-assembly capability. Many recent examples show the potentiality of application of elastinlike polypeptides (ELP) for a wide range of biomedical applications that exploit their features. This work aims at designing and producing, by recombinant DNA methodology, a human elastin-like artificial protein (HELP) as starting material for the preparation of self-assembled or crosslinked matrices to be used in regenerative medicine. On the basis of the VAPGVG sequence (the most structurally regular occurring region of the human tropoelastin) a synthetic gene was designed, cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The obtained artificial HELP protein (an eight block protein polymer, MW » 45000 Da) includes substrate amino acids (K, lysine and Q, glutamine) for enzymatic crosslinking.
HELP (Human Elastin-like Polypeptide) as a key component in matrices for regenerative medicine
BANDIERA, Antonella;
2009-01-01
Abstract
Genetically engineered proteins represent a new promising class of biomaterials that overcome the disadvantages of naturally derived biopolymers (potential pathogens transmission, immune reactions, etc). These engineered macromolecules contain repeated natural sequence motifs that induce a regular structure and self-assembly capability. Many recent examples show the potentiality of application of elastinlike polypeptides (ELP) for a wide range of biomedical applications that exploit their features. This work aims at designing and producing, by recombinant DNA methodology, a human elastin-like artificial protein (HELP) as starting material for the preparation of self-assembled or crosslinked matrices to be used in regenerative medicine. On the basis of the VAPGVG sequence (the most structurally regular occurring region of the human tropoelastin) a synthetic gene was designed, cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The obtained artificial HELP protein (an eight block protein polymer, MW » 45000 Da) includes substrate amino acids (K, lysine and Q, glutamine) for enzymatic crosslinking.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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