Nature inspires a new wave of biotechnology

Originally published by Nanowerk News on Dec 02, 2023

Peptides, short chains of amino acids and vital components of proteins, are at the forefront of biotechnological innovation. These biological molecules are essential in numerous biological processes, such as oxygen and electron transport.

Emulating nature, researchers are pioneering the development of synthetic peptides that form into nanoscale fibers. These fibers are particularly intriguing because they conduct electricity when combined with heme, a natural substance crucial for electron movement in proteins.

The findings have been published in Nanoscale ("Designing 1D multiheme peptide amphiphile assemblies reminiscent of natural systems").

The research delves into how the electrical conductivity of these peptide nanofibers is influenced by the amino acid sequence's length and specific composition. Understanding these structural parameters is key, as they govern the function of peptides in nature and their potential in biotechnology. This includes the sequence length of the peptide segments and the arrangement of specific amino acids within a peptide.

Peptide molecules and heme disordered in solution (left) are transformed into an ordered one-dimensional (1D) self-assembled nanostructure (center) that supports electron flow, as imaged by Atomic Force Microscopy (right)

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