PROTO-ORGANELLES FOR BIOMINERALIZATION
Abstract
Natural organisms from across biological kingdoms use vesicles to direct biomineralization required for native functions; notable examples include calcium-containing vesicles in the extracellular matrix involved in bone mineralization and magnetosomes – membrane-bound organelles that convert soluble iron to homogenous magnetic nanoparticles in magnetotactic bacteria. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the magnetosome is of particular interest as magnetic nanoparticles have found growing utility in data storage, ferrofluidic, diagnostic, and therapeutic technologies. While biological assays have begun to elucidate mechanisms of biomineralization, many questions remain open due to challenges in isolation and in vitro characterization of these complex systems. The overall objectives of this work are to 1) develop a modular biomimetic proto-organelle scaffold and identify design principles for directing the arrangement of peptides and enabling cross-membrane ion transport in the proto-organelle and 2) use those design principles to enhance understanding of the role of solvent accessible protein fragments in the nucleation and growth of magnetic nanoparticles.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010172
Entities
People
- Abigail S Knight
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill