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Nanoscale probing of electron-regulated structural transitions in silk proteins by near-field IR imaging and nano-spectroscopy

Author

Listed:
  • Nan Qin

    (State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shaoqing Zhang

    (the University of Texas at Austin)

  • Jianjuan Jiang

    (State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Stephanie Gilbert Corder

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Zhigang Qian

    (State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Zhitao Zhou

    (State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Woonsoo Lee

    (the University of Texas at Austin)

  • Keyin Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaohan Wang

    (the University of Texas at Austin)

  • Xinxin Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University)

  • Zhifeng Shi

    (Huashan Hospital of Fudan University)

  • Ying Mao

    (Huashan Hospital of Fudan University)

  • Hans A. Bechtel

    (Nano-FTIR, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Michael C. Martin

    (Nano-FTIR, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Xiaoxia Xia

    (State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Benedetto Marelli

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • David L. Kaplan

    (Tufts University
    Tufts University)

  • Fiorenzo G. Omenetto

    (Tufts University
    Tufts University)

  • Mengkun Liu

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Tiger H. Tao

    (State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    the University of Texas at Austin
    School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University)

Abstract

Silk protein fibres produced by silkworms and spiders are renowned for their unparalleled mechanical strength and extensibility arising from their high-β-sheet crystal contents as natural materials. Investigation of β-sheet-oriented conformational transitions in silk proteins at the nanoscale remains a challenge using conventional imaging techniques given their limitations in chemical sensitivity or limited spatial resolution. Here, we report on electron-regulated nanoscale polymorphic transitions in silk proteins revealed by near-field infrared imaging and nano-spectroscopy at resolutions approaching the molecular level. The ability to locally probe nanoscale protein structural transitions combined with nanometre-precision electron-beam lithography offers us the capability to finely control the structure of silk proteins in two and three dimensions. Our work paves the way for unlocking essential nanoscopic protein structures and critical conditions for electron-induced conformational transitions, offering new rules to design protein-based nanoarchitectures.

Suggested Citation

  • Nan Qin & Shaoqing Zhang & Jianjuan Jiang & Stephanie Gilbert Corder & Zhigang Qian & Zhitao Zhou & Woonsoo Lee & Keyin Liu & Xiaohan Wang & Xinxin Li & Zhifeng Shi & Ying Mao & Hans A. Bechtel & Mich, 2016. "Nanoscale probing of electron-regulated structural transitions in silk proteins by near-field IR imaging and nano-spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13079
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13079
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