Post by skyship on Dec 9, 2014 2:35:50 GMT -5
ELPs are Elastin-like synthetic polypeptides.
Elastin-like polypeptides in stimulus-responsive materials
The structural protein elastin is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix, which provides structural integrity to the tissues and organs of the body. This highly crosslinked and therefore insoluble protein is the essential element of elastic fibers, which induce elasticity to tissue of lung, skin and arteries. Not only elastin but also its precursor material, tropoelastin, has inspired the material science society already for many years.
The most interesting characteristic of the precursor is its ability to self-assemble under physiological conditions, thereby demonstrating a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior.
This specific property has led to the development of a new class of synthetic polypeptides which mimic elastin in its composition and are therefore also known as elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs).
ELPs are protein-based polymers consisting of repeating pentapeptides of Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly, where the fourth residue Xaa can be any natural amino acid except proline. Those ELPs are thermally-responsive biopolymers which can be switched between an extended water soluble state and a collapsed state, leading to insolubility in water. The transition temperature can be varied over an extended range by changing the fourth residue and length of the polymer. Poly(VPGXG) can be obtained by protein expression in host cells, such as Escherichia coli, providing the highest degree of sequence control by genetic engineering.
The focus of this research project is on the application of these biopolymers to create stimulus-responsive materials.
www.ru.nl/bio-orgchem/research/research_projects/mark-van-eldijk/
view images:
www.ru.nl/publish/pages/607537/mark_-_elp.jpg
Elastin-like polypeptides in stimulus-responsive materials
The structural protein elastin is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix, which provides structural integrity to the tissues and organs of the body. This highly crosslinked and therefore insoluble protein is the essential element of elastic fibers, which induce elasticity to tissue of lung, skin and arteries. Not only elastin but also its precursor material, tropoelastin, has inspired the material science society already for many years.
The most interesting characteristic of the precursor is its ability to self-assemble under physiological conditions, thereby demonstrating a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior.
This specific property has led to the development of a new class of synthetic polypeptides which mimic elastin in its composition and are therefore also known as elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs).
ELPs are protein-based polymers consisting of repeating pentapeptides of Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly, where the fourth residue Xaa can be any natural amino acid except proline. Those ELPs are thermally-responsive biopolymers which can be switched between an extended water soluble state and a collapsed state, leading to insolubility in water. The transition temperature can be varied over an extended range by changing the fourth residue and length of the polymer. Poly(VPGXG) can be obtained by protein expression in host cells, such as Escherichia coli, providing the highest degree of sequence control by genetic engineering.
The focus of this research project is on the application of these biopolymers to create stimulus-responsive materials.
www.ru.nl/bio-orgchem/research/research_projects/mark-van-eldijk/
view images:
www.ru.nl/publish/pages/607537/mark_-_elp.jpg