Professor Ming Jiang and his research team published a new paper entitled “Protein crystalline frameworks with controllable interpenetration directed by dual supramolecular interactions” in Nature Communications on 21 August 2014. Here they presented new protein crystalline frameworks (PCFs) with controllable interpenetration. The new PCFs were prepared using natural protein (Concanavalin A) and small-molecular inducing ligands (monosaccharide and rhodamine groups connected by an oligo-ethylene oxide spacer). Two non-covalent interactions, that is, sugar–lectin binding and the dimerization of rhodamine, are responsible for the framework formation.

Interpenetration is a well-known common feature in multidimensional structure in nature and synthetic materials, which bestows unique properties on the materials. Besides interpenetrating frameworks, this work revealed a rapid crystallization with a high yield, which may shed light on protein crystallization in near future.

In recent years, Jiang’s research team gradually extended to the life sciences and development, with especial attention on the carbohydrate related structure and biological function. This paper is the latest achievement in the life-science field. Jiang’s group cooperated with Dr. Manfred who works in Macromolecular Crystallography research department, Institute of Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz Zentrum, Berlin, Germany.

Chemical structures of the inducing ligands, Rh3Man; Crystal of ConA/Rh3Man complex;

The packing of assembly of ConA/Rh3Man; Details of interactions.

More information: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140821/ncomms5634/full/ncomms5634.html