(713g) Design of Protein Nano-Architectures As Genetically Programmable, Functional Biomaterials

In biological systems, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids are precisely organized to form higher ordered structures across multiple length scales. We believe that harnessing the principles and mechanisms underlying the assembly and organization of natural bionanomaterials offers tremendous opportunities for the design and scalable fabrication of functional biomaterials with emergent properties. Proteins and peptides provide the greatest versatility for the bottom-up design and low-cost production of such self-assembling supramolecular materials due to the chemical diversity of their amino acid building blocks. They are also genetically encoded, allowing for the genetically programmable production of self-organizing materials using cell factories or in the future, de novo via cell free expression systems. Proteins are also key players in the formation inorganic-organic composite materials with properties unmatched by synthetic properties. Inspired by the spatial organization of enzymes at the subcellular level via different types of protein nanostructures, we are taking advantage of these mechanisms for the design of self-assembling protein-based nano-architectures for different applications, including for in vitro biocatalysis and for the fabrication of new types of functional materials. Of key interest to us is the discovery and design of mechanism with which to interface protein-based materials with biomineralization processes for the production of innovative materials with unique mechanical and other properties. This presentation will discuss possibilities and examples from our work for the design of genetically encoded biomaterials as functional materials for diverse applications, including e.g. for biocatalysis and biosynthesis, as coatings and as living materials.