Gold Nanoparticle-Induced
Formation of Artificial
Protein Capsids
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Abstract
Gold nanoparticles are generally considered to be biologically
inactive. However, in this study we show that the addition of 1.4
nm diameter gold nanoparticle induces the remodeling of the ring-shaped
protein TRAP into a hollow, capsid-like configuration. This structural
remodeling is dependent upon the presence of cysteine residues on
the TRAP surface as well as the specific type of gold nanoparticle.
The results reveal an apparent novel catalytic role of gold nanoparticles