Hierarchical coexistence of universality and diversity controls robustness and multi-functionality in intermediate filament protein networks

Proteins constitute the elementary building blocks of a vast variety of biological materials such as cellular protein networks, spider silk or bone, where they create extremely robust, multi-functional materials by self-organization of structures over many length- and time scales, from nano to macro. Some of the structural features are commonly found in a many different tissues, that is, they are highly conserved. Examples of such universal building blocks include alpha-helices, beta-sheets or tropocollagen molecules. In contrast, other features are highly specific to tissue types, such as particular filament assemblies, beta-sheet nanocrystals in spider silk or tendon fascicles. These examples illustrate that the coexistence of universality and diversity – in the following referred to as the universality-diversity paradigm (UDP) – is an overarching feature in protein materials. This paradigm is a paradox: How can a structure be universal and diverse at the same time? In protein materials, the coexistence of universality and diversity is enabled by utilizing hierarchies, which serve as an additional dimension beyond the 3D or 4D physical space. This may be crucial to understand how their structure and properties are linked, and how these materials are capable of combining seemingly disparate properties such as strength and robustness. Here we illustrate how the UDP enables to unify universal building blocks and highly diversified patterns through formation of hierarchical structures that lead to multi-functional, robust yet highly adapted structures. We illustrate these concepts in an analysis of three types of intermediate filament proteins, including vimentin, lamin and keratin

Anisotropic 2D materials for tunable hyperbolic plasmonics

Motivated by the recent emergence of a new class of anisotropic 2D materials, we examine their electromagnetic modes and demonstrate that a broad class of the materials can host highly directional hyperbolic plasmons. Their propagation direction can be manipulated on-the-spot by gate doping, enabling hyperbolic beams reflection, refraction and bending. The realization of these natural 2D hyperbolic media opens up a new avenue in dynamic control of hyperbolic plasmons not possible in the 3D version.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Resonance effects in the Raman scattering of mono- and few layers MoSe2_2

Using resonant Raman scattering spectroscopy with 25 different laser lines, we describe the Raman scattering spectra of mono- and multi-layers 2H-molybdenum diselenide (MoSe$_2$) as well as the different resonances affecting the most pronounced features. For high-energy phonons, both A- and E- symmetry type phonons present resonances with A and B excitons of MoSe$_2$ together with a marked increase of intensity when exciting at higher energy, close to the C exciton energy. We observe symmetry dependent exciton-phonon coupling affecting mainly the low-energy rigid layer phonon modes. The shear mode for multilayer displays a pronounced resonance with the C exciton while the breathing mode has an intensity that grows with the excitation laser energy, indicating a resonance with electronic excitations at energies higher than that of the C exciton.Comment: 9 Figures, 9 page