Functional nanoscale biomolecular materials

A comprehensive analysis of prefoldins and their implication in cancer

Prefoldins (PFDNs) are evolutionary conserved co-chaperones, initially discovered in archaea but universally present in eukaryotes. PFDNs are prevalently organized into hetero-hexameric complexes. Although they have been overlooked since their discovery and their functions remain elusive, several reports indicate they act as co-chaperones escorting misfolded or non-native proteins to group II chaperonins. Unlike the eukaryotic PFDNs which interact with cytoskeletal components, the archaeal PFDNs can bind and stabilize a wide range of substrates, possibly due to their great structural diversity. The discovery of the unconventional RPB5 interactor (URI) PFDN-like complex (UPC) suggests that PFDNs have versatile functions and are required for different cellular processes, including an important role in cancer. Here, we summarize their functions across different species. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of PFDNs genomic alterations across cancer types by using large-scale cancer genomic data indicates that PFDNs are a new class of non-mutated proteins significantly overexpressed in some cancer types.

Protein cages and synthetic polymers: a fruitful symbiosis for drug delivery applications, bionanotechnology and materials science

Protein cages have become essential tools in bionanotechnology due to their well-defined, monodisperse, capsule-like structure. Combining them with synthetic polymers greatly expands their application, giving rise to novel nanomaterials fore.g.drug-delivery, sensing, electronic devices and for uses as nanoreactors.

Editorial: Nanobio versus Bionano--what's in a name?

Nanobio versus Bionano--what's in a name? This special Issue of Biotechnology Journal includes two sections, one featuring articles on nanobio, the other articles on bionano. The editors of the issue, François Baneyx and Je-Kyun Park, discuss the similarities and differences between the two in their editorial.