Giant capsids from lattice self-assembly of cyclodextrin complexes

• Published in: Nature communications 2017-06, Vol.8 (1), p.15856-15856, Article 15856
• Main Authors: Yang, Shenyu, Yan, Yun, Huang, Jianbin, Petukhov, Andrei V., Kroon-Batenburg, Loes M. J., Drechsler, Markus, Zhou, Chengcheng, Tu, Mei, Granick, Steve, Jiang, Lingxiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301/923; 639/638/541/966; 639/766/119/1002; Bacteria; beta-Cyclodextrins - chemistry; Capsid - chemistry; Capsid Proteins - chemistry; Capsids; Chemical synthesis; Compartments; Crystallinity; Cyclodextrin; Encapsulation; Humanities and Social Sciences; Lamellae; Lamellar structure; Liposomes; Mathematical morphology; Micelles; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Molecular Mimicry; Molecular Structure; Morphology; multidisciplinary; Nanostructures; Proteins; Rigidity; Scattering, Radiation; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Self-assembly; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - chemistry; Tubes; Viruses; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15856

Proteins can readily assemble into rigid, crystalline and functional structures such as viral capsids and bacterial compartments. Despite ongoing advances, it is still a fundamental challenge to design and synthesize protein-mimetic molecules to form crystalline structures. Here we report the lattice self-assembly of cyclodextrin complexes into a variety of capsid-like structures such as lamellae, helical tubes and hollow rhombic dodecahedra. The dodecahedral morphology has not hitherto been observed in self-assembly systems. The tubes can spontaneously encapsulate colloidal particles and liposomes. The dodecahedra and tubes are respectively comparable to and much larger than the largest known virus. In particular, the resemblance to protein assemblies is not limited to morphology but extends to structural rigidity and crystallinity—a well-defined, 2D rhombic lattice of molecular arrangement is strikingly universal for all the observed structures. We propose a simple design rule for the current lattice self-assembly, potentially opening doors for new protein-mimetic materials. Designing and synthesizing protein mimetic molecules to form crystalline structures can be a challenge. Here the authors show lattice self-assembly of cyclodextrin complexes into a variety of capsid like structures, such as, lamellae, helical tubes and hollow rhombic dodecahedra.