(563f) Opto-Chemical Characterization and Determination of Nanostructural Organization in Complex Leafhopper Brochosome Protein Assemblies

Biological systems rely on complex and robust assembly of biomolecular building blocks, yielding hierarchical macromolecular structures with unique functions and characteristics. Brochosomes are a fascinating example of highly ordered macromolecular structures exhibiting hollow and pitted Buckyball shaped nanostructures. Brochosomes are produced in the hindgut of leafhoppers (Hemiptera; Cicadellidae) and are composed of a unique class of intricately arranged and disulfide bond crosslinked secretory proteins. Despite recent progress, we lack a full understanding of structural features of these materials, including overall spatial arrangement of brochosome building blocks. In this talk, I will discuss our recent work in understanding the short- and long-range structural order of brochosomes using opto-chemical atomic force microscopy and x-ray scattering techniques. Results have indicated the presence of optical activity consistent with secondary protein structures along brochosome surfaces, while small-angle x-ray scattering has indicated that some specific structural orientation may be present. Furthermore, single and clustered brochosomes have shown regions of high optical absorbance across several IR-wavelengths, which may be related to their potential as a material for camouflage applications. Overall, these findings will inform next-generation synthetic methods for producing complexed self-assembled hierarchical structures.