Metal Ion Mediated Self-Assembly Directed Formation of Protein Arrays

Self-assembled inorganic-protein arrays with well-defined and controllable size and structure were obtained through the Fe-II complexation of protein-conjugated, terpyridine units (ligand). The atom-level control of the ligand is obtained through residue-specific conjugation between the complexing unit (terpy) containing an activity based probe and a corresponding active enzyme (papain). The Fe-II-based self-assembly performed on this unique building block (ligand) leads to chemical species of unprecedented constitution. The first example presented herein opens the way to a shape and size regime usually reserved to polymers.