Characterization of amyloid-like metal-amino acid assemblies with remarkable catalytic activity

Om Shanker Tiwari, Ehud Gazit*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

While enzymes are potentially useful in various applications, their limited operational stability and production costs have led to an extensive search for stable catalytic agents that will retain the efficiency, specificity, and environmental-friendliness of natural enzymes. Despite extensive efforts, there is still an unmet need for improved enzyme mimics and novel concepts to discover and optimize such agents. Inspired by the catalytic activity of amyloids and the formation of amyloid-like assemblies by metabolites, our group pioneered the development of novel metabolite-metal co-assemblies (bio-nanozymes) that produce nanomaterials mimicking the catalytic function of common metalloenzymes that are being used for various technological applications. In addition to their notable activity, bio-nanozymes are remarkably safe as they are purely composed of amino acids and minerals that are harmless to the environment. The bio-nanozymes exhibit high efficiency and exceptional robustness, even under extreme conditions of temperature, pH, and salinity that are impractical for enzymes. Our group has recently also demonstrated the formation of ordered amino acid co-assemblies showing selective and preferential interactions comparable to the organization of residues in folded proteins. The identified bio-nanozymes can be used in various applications including environmental remediation, synthesis of new materials, and green energy.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPeptide Catalysts, Including Catalytic Amyloids
EditorsIvan V. Korendovych
PublisherAcademic Press Inc.
Pages181-209
Number of pages29
ISBN (Print)9780443236679
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2024

Publication series

NameMethods in Enzymology
Volume697
ISSN (Print)0076-6879
ISSN (Electronic)1557-7988

Funding

FundersFunder number
Air Force Office of Scientific ResearchFA8655-21-1-7004
Air Force Research Laboratory
Tel Aviv University

    Keywords

    • Amino acids
    • Bio-nanozymes
    • Catalysis
    • Metabolites
    • Nano-enzymes
    • Self-assembly

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