AI Article Synopsis
- The self-assembly of biomolecular complexes is a key process in biological organization, but current synthetic methods often face challenges like low yields and the need for fine-tuning assembly conditions.
- Coarse-grained simulations reveal that efficient assembly relies on rapid nucleation and limited growth pathways, which create a specific "assembly funnel" for optimal complex formation.
- By redesigning the components involved, researchers can widen this funnel, allowing for faster complex formation under various conditions and establishing a new strategy for synthesizing robust biomolecular complexes.
Article Abstract
Like protein folding and crystallization, the self-assembly of complexes is a fundamental form of biomolecular organization. While the number of methods for creating synthetic complexes is growing rapidly, most require empirical tuning of assembly conditions and/or produce low yields. We use coarse-grained simulations of the assembly kinetics of complexes to identify generic limitations on yields that arise because of the many simultaneous interactions allowed between the components and intermediates of a complex. Efficient assembly occurs when nucleation is fast and growth pathways are few, i.e. when there is an assembly "funnel". For typical complexes, an assembly funnel occurs in a narrow window of conditions whose location is highly complex specific. However, by redesigning the components this window can be drastically broadened, so that complexes can form quickly across many conditions. The generality of this approach suggests assembly funnel design as a foundational strategy for robust biomolecular complex synthesis.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4215988 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111233 | PLOS |
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