Synthetic Par polarity induces cytoskeleton asymmetry in unpolarized mammalian cells.

Polarized cells rely on a polarized cytoskeleton to function. Yet, how cortical polarity cues induce cytoskeleton polarization remains elusive. Here, we capitalized on recently established designed 2D protein arrays to ectopically engineer cortical polarity of virtually any protein of interest during mitosis in various cell types.

Protein Design Using Physics Informed Neural Networks.

The inverse protein folding problem, also known as protein sequence design, seeks to predict an amino acid sequence that folds into a specific structure and performs a specific function. Recent advancements in machine learning techniques have been successful in generating functional sequences, outperforming previous energy function-based methods. However, these machine learning methods are limited in their interoperability and robustness, especially when designing proteins that must function under non-ambient conditions, such as high temperature, extreme pH, or in various ionic solvents.

Precision materials: Computational design methods of accurate protein materials.

Nature has evolved a vast repertoire of structures and functions based on an ordered, orchestrated, protein building-blocks assembly. For decades these sophisticated materials have been studied, mimicked, and repurposed, yet recently, computational protein engineering methods provided an alternative route: creating protein materials de-novo, surpassing evolutionary constraints and optimized for specific tasks. We highlight two areas of research that fundamentally accelerate design of structurally well-defined programmable protein materials.

Design of biologically active binary protein 2D materials.

Ordered two-dimensional arrays such as S-layers and designed analogues have intrigued bioengineers, but with the exception of a single lattice formed with flexible linkers, they are constituted from just one protein component. Materials composed of two components have considerable potential advantages for modulating assembly dynamics and incorporating more complex functionality. Here we describe a computational method to generate co-assembling binary layers by designing rigid interfaces between pairs of dihedral protein building blocks, and use it to design a p6m lattice.

Self-assembled metallic nanowire-based vertical organic field-effect transistor.

We report on in situ, self-assembly, solution-processing of metallic (Au/Ag) nanowire-based transparent electrodes integrated to vertical organic field-effect transistors (VOFETs). In the VOFET architecture, the nanowires' microstructure facilitates current modulation by the gate across the otherwise shielding sandwiched source electrode. We show N-type VOFETs operation with on/off ratio ∼1 × 10(5) and high current density (>1 mA cm(-2) at VDS = 5 V).

Low-temperature molecular vapor deposition of ultrathin metal oxide dielectric for low-voltage vertical organic field effect transistors.

We demonstrate a low-temperature layer-by-layer formation of a metal-oxide-only (AlOx) gate dielectric to attain low-voltage operation of a self-assembly based vertical organic field effect transistor (VOFET). The AlOx deposition method results in uniform films characterized by high quality dielectric properties. Pin-hole free ultrathin layers with thicknesses ranging between 1.

Unraveling the physics of vertical organic field effect transistors through nanoscale engineering of a self-assembled transparent electrode.

While organic transistors' performances are continually pushed to achieve lower power consumption, higher working frequencies, and higher current densities, a new type of organic transistors characterized by a vertical architecture offers a radically different design approach to outperform its traditional counterparts. Naturally, the distinct vertical architecture gives way to different governing physical ground rules and structural key features such as the need for an embedded transparent electrode. In this paper, we make use of a zero-frequency electric field-transparent patterned electrode produced through block-copolymer self-assembly based lithography to control the performances of the vertical organic field effect transistor (VOFET) and to study its governing physical mechanisms.