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Nanoscale Assembly in Biological Systems: From Neuronal Cytoskeletal Proteins to Curvature Stabilizing Lipids
Author(s) -
Safinya Cyrus R.,
Raviv Uri,
Needleman Daniel J.,
Zidovska Alexandra,
Choi Myung Chul,
OjedaLopez Miguel A.,
Ewert Kai K.,
Li Youli,
Miller Herbert P.,
Quispe Joel,
Carragher Bridget,
Potter Clinton S.,
Kim Mahn Won,
Feinstein Stuart C.,
Wilson Leslie
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201004647
Subject(s) - membrane curvature , cytoskeleton , nanotechnology , microtubule , biophysics , materials science , membrane , nanoscopic scale , curvature , membrane biophysics , membrane protein , lipid bilayer , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , biochemistry , geometry , mathematics
Abstract The review will describe experiments inspired by the rich variety of bundles and networks of interacting microtubules (MT), neurofilaments, and filamentous‐actin in neurons where the nature of the interactions, structures, and structure‐function correlations remain poorly understood. We describe how three‐dimensional (3D) MT bundles and 2D MT bundles may assemble, in cell free systems in the presence of counter‐ions, revealing structures not predicted by polyelectrolyte theories. Interestingly, experiments reveal that the neuronal protein tau, an abundant MT‐associated‐protein in axons, modulates the MT diameter providing insight for the control of geometric parameters in bio‐ nanotechnology. In another set of experiments we describe lipid‐protein‐nanotubes, and lipid nano‐ tubes and rods, resulting from membrane shape evolution processes involving protein templates and curvature stabilizing lipids. Similar membrane shape changes, occurring in cells for the purpose of specific functions, are induced by interactions between membranes and proteins. The biological materials systems described have applications in bio‐nanotechnology.