Divalent cations: A molecular glue for protein materials

HECTOR LOPEZ LAGUNA; SANCHEZ, JM; UGUTZ UNZUETA ,; MANGUES, RAMÓN; ESTHER VÁZQUEZ; ANTONIO VILLAVERDE

TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES

ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020

0968-0004

Among inorganic materials, divalent cations modulate thousands of physiological processesthat support life. Their roles in protein assembly and aggregation are less known, although progressively being brought to light. We review the structural roles of divalent cations here, aswell as the novel protein materials that are under development in which they are used as glue31like agents. More specifically, we discuss how mechanically stable nanoparticles, fibers, matrices and hydrogels are generated through their coordination with histidine-rich proteins. We also describe how the rational use of divalent cations combined with simple proteinengineering offers unexpected and very simple biochemical approaches to biomaterial designthat might address unmet clinical needs in precision medicine