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Hughes MDG, Cussons S, Hanson BS, Cook KR, Feller T, Mahmoudi N, Baker DL, Ariëns R, Head DA, Brockwell DJ, Dougan L. Building block aspect ratio controls assembly, architecture, and mechanics of synthetic and natural protein networks. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5593. [PMID: 37696784 PMCID: PMC10495373 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40921-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrous networks constructed from high aspect ratio protein building blocks are ubiquitous in nature. Despite this ubiquity, the functional advantage of such building blocks over globular proteins is not understood. To answer this question, we engineered hydrogel network building blocks with varying numbers of protein L domains to control the aspect ratio. The mechanical and structural properties of photochemically crosslinked protein L networks were then characterised using shear rheology and small angle neutron scattering. We show that aspect ratio is a crucial property that defines network architecture and mechanics, by shifting the formation from translationally diffusion dominated to rotationally diffusion dominated. Additionally, we demonstrate that a similar transition is observed in the model living system: fibrin blood clot networks. The functional advantages of this transition are increased mechanical strength and the rapid assembly of homogenous networks above a critical protein concentration, crucial for in vivo biological processes such as blood clotting. In addition, manipulating aspect ratio also provides a parameter in the design of future bio-mimetic and bio-inspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt D G Hughes
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sophie Cussons
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Benjamin S Hanson
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Kalila R Cook
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Tímea Feller
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Najet Mahmoudi
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Spallation Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Daniel L Baker
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert Ariëns
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - David A Head
- School of Computing, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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Aufderhorst-Roberts A, Cussons S, Brockwell DJ, Dougan L. Diversity of viscoelastic properties of an engineered muscle-inspired protein hydrogel. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:3167-3178. [PMID: 37067782 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01225a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Folded protein hydrogels are prime candidates as tuneable biomaterials but it is unclear to what extent their mechanical properties have mesoscopic, as opposed to molecular origins. To address this, we probe hydrogels inspired by the muscle protein titin and engineered to the polyprotein I275, using a multimodal rheology approach. Across multiple protocols, the hydrogels consistently exhibit power-law viscoelasticity in the linear viscoelastic regime with an exponent β = 0.03, suggesting a dense fractal meso-structure, with predicted fractal dimension df = 2.48. In the nonlinear viscoelastic regime, the hydrogel undergoes stiffening and energy dissipation, indicating simultaneous alignment and unfolding of the folded proteins on the nanoscale. Remarkably, this behaviour is highly reversible, as the value of β, df and the viscoelastic moduli return to their equilibrium value, even after multiple cycles of deformation. This highlights a previously unrevealed diversity of viscoelastic properties that originate on both at the nanoscale and the mesoscopic scale, providing powerful opportunities for engineering novel biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Aufderhorst-Roberts
- Department of Physics, Centre for Materials Physics, University of Durham, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Sophie Cussons
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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