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Accurate design of large icosahedral protein nanocages pushes bioengineering boundaries


July 21, 2016

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Inspired by shells that protect virus genomes, researchers set out to design self-assembling, roomy protein structures capable of packaging and delivering cargo to cells. They have now engineered the largest, human-designed protein complexes to date, confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The structures can self-assemble around other materials. This cargo-packaging capability may lead to creating a new generation of molecular machines that could deliver drugs or genetic therapies to cells.Full Story

Source
University of Washington Health Sciences/UW Medicine

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