(191ct) Structural Studies of Protein Based Nanoparticle Synthesis

Protein and peptide directed synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials offers several advantages over traditional synthesis methods; however, despite being used to great effect, the fundamental mechanisms for how biomolecules control and drive nanomaterial synthesis is not well understood. We are using high-resolution structural biology techniques on proteins that are able to synthesize gold nanoparticles to investigate how biomolecules are able to influence inorganic nanomaterial nucleation and growth. In this presentation we will present our functional studies of this system as well as gold bound protein crystal structures we have determined of this system thus far.