Probing the interactions of intrinsically disordered proteins using nanoparticle tags.

The structural plasticity of intrinsically disordered proteins serves as a rich area for scientific inquiry. Such proteins lack a fix three-dimensional structure but can interact with multiple partners through numerous weak bonds. Nevertheless, this intrinsic plasticity possesses a challenging hurdle in their characterization. We underpin the intermolecular interactions between intrinsically disordered neurofilaments in various hydrated conditions, using grafted gold nanoparticle (NP) tags. Beyond its biological significance, this approach can be applied to modify the surface interaction of NPs for the creation of future tunable "smart" hybrid biomaterials.