Publications

Surface layer protein characterization by small angle x-ray scattering and a fractal mean force concept: From protein structure to nanodisk assemblies

Author(s)
Christine Horejs, Dietmar Pum, Uwe B. Sleytr, Herwig Peterlik, Alois Jungbauer, Rupert Tscheliessnig
Abstract

Surface layers (S-layers) are the most commonly observed cell surface structure of prokaryotic organisms. They are made up of proteins that spontaneously self-assemble into functional crystalline lattices in solution, on various solid surfaces, and interfaces. While classical experimental techniques failed to recover a complete structural model of an unmodified S-layer protein, small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) provides an opportunity to study the structure of S-layer monomers in solution and of self-assembled two-dimensional sheets. For the protein under investigation we recently suggested an atomistic structural model by the use of molecular dynamics simulations. This structural model is now refined on the basis of SAXS data together with a fractal assembly approach. Here we show that a nondiluted critical system of proteins, which crystallize into monomolecular structures, might be analyzed by SAXS if protein-protein interactions are taken into account by relating a fractal local density distribution to a fractal local mean potential, which has to fulfill the Poisson equation. The present work demonstrates an important step into the elucidation of the structure of S-layers and offers a tool to analyze the structure of self-assembling systems in solution by means of SAXS and computer simulations.

Organisation(s)
Dynamics of Condensed Systems
External organisation(s)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Journal
Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume
133
No. of pages
8
ISSN
0021-9606
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3489682
Publication date
2010
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
1030 Physics, Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/surface-layer-protein-characterization-by-small-angle-xray-scattering-and-a-fractal-mean-force-concept-from-protein-structure-to-nanodisk-assemblies(afc066dc-c3db-4549-9206-e47047f944e3).html