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H2020Individual fellowship2019–2021

UCLnProt · De novo design of an UpConverting metalloProtein

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2019-09-02 → 2021-09-01
EU contribution
€212,934
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-ST

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

De novo design of an UpConverting metalloProtein

During this fellowship a new class of Lanthanide coiled coils (LCC) were prepared, designed de novo (“from scratch”), to generate bi- and tri- homo- and hetero- metallic derivatives which are capable of binding the full range of Ln(III) ions. These LCCs combine the attractive photophysical properties of Ln complexes, with de novo designed coiled coil scaffolds capable of selectively binding different Ln ions at well-defined locations and tuneable distances. This project developed a library of coiled coils, a new class of ligands for lanthanide ions, and generated a series of lanthanide complexes. The traditional field of lanthanide chemistry has focussed primarily on the use of traditional small molecule ligands. This work therefore provides a new class of ligands to the lanthanide coordination chemistry toolbox. Furthermore, lanthanide biochemistry is a field only a decade in the making. Consequently, the coordination of lanthanides to miniature protein scaffolds, our coiled coils, and the interrogation of resulting coordination chemistry, provides useful insight into lanthanide biochemistry.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Herein, we propose to design de novo (“from scratch”) the first upconverting metalloprotein. This will be achieved by exploiting a new class of lanthanide coiled coils (LCC), to generate bimetallic derivatives. These will, for the first time, combine the attractive photophysical properties of Ln complexes, with de novo designed coiled coil scaffolds capable of selectively binding different Ln ions at well-defined and tuneable distances. This programme of work will provide a new strategy for unlocking the full potential of science at the interface of biology and inorganic chemistry, by combining previously unexplored ligands with traditional inorganic complexes, for applications beyond those offered by biology, such as upconversion. The complementary expertise of Dr Borghesani (bioinorganic chemistry and spectroscopy) and the supervisor Dr Peacock (metallopeptide design) offer the unique combination to realise the full potential of multimetallic LCCs, and will, in conjunction with two planned short secondments, provide Dr Borghesani with new and cutting-edge research training.

Original text from CORDIS.

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union