12 publications

12 publications

Construction of Robust Bio-Nanotubes using the Controlled Self-Assembly of Component Proteins of Bacteriophage T4

Ueno, T.

Small 2010, 6, 1873-1879, 10.1002/smll.201000772

The synthesis of a robust bio‐nanotube consisting of the β‐helical tubular component proteins of bacteriophage T4 is described. The crystal structure indicates that it has a well‐defined nanoscale length of 10 nm as a result of the head‐to‐head dimerization of β‐helices. Surprisingly, the tube assembly has high thermal stability, high tolerance to organic solvents, and a wide pH‐stability range.


Metal: Cu
Ligand type: Flavin
Host protein: [(gp5βf)3]2
Anchoring strategy: Lysine-succinimide
Optimization: ---
Reaction: Cycloaddition
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: ---
Notes: ---

Control of the Coordination Structure of Organometallic Palladium Complexes in an Apo-Ferritin Cage

Ueno, T.; Watanabe, Y.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 10512-10514, 10.1021/ja802463a

We report the preparation of organometallic Pd(allyl) dinuclear complexes in protein cages of apo-Fr by reactions with [Pd(allyl)Cl]2 (allyl = η3-C3H5). One of the dinuclear complexes is converted to a trinuclear complex by replacing a Pd-coordinated His residue to an Ala residue. These results suggest that multinuclear metal complexes with various coordination structures could be prepared by the deletion or introduction of His, Cys, and Glu at appropriate positions on protein surface.


Metal: Pd
Ligand type: Allyl
Host protein: Ferritin
Anchoring strategy: Dative
Optimization: ---
Reaction: Suzuki coupling
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: 2ZG7
Notes: ---

Definite Coordination Arrangement of Organometallic Palladium Complexes Accumulated on the Designed Interior Surface of Apo-Ferritin

Ueno, T.

Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 170-172, 10.1039/C0CC02221G

Apo-ferritin (apo-Fr) mutants are used as scaffolds to accommodate palladium (allyl) complexes. Various coordination arrangements of the Pd complexes are achieved by adjusting the positions of cysteine and histidine residues on the interior surface of the apo-Fr cage.


Metal: Pd
Ligand type: Allyl
Host protein: Ferritin
Anchoring strategy: Dative
Optimization: Genetic
Reaction: Suzuki coupling
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: ---
Notes: ---

Dual Modification of a Triple-Stranded β-Helix Nanotube with Ru and Re Metal Complexes to Promote Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2

Ueno, T.

Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 2074, 10.1039/C0CC03015E

We have constructed a robust β-helical nanotube from the component proteins of bacteriophage T4 and modified this nanotube with RuII(bpy)3 and ReI(bpy)(CO)3Cl complexes. The photocatalytic system arranged on the tube catalyzes the reduction of CO2 with higher reactivity than that of the mixture of the monomeric forms.


Metal: Re
Ligand type: Bipyridine; CO
Host protein: [(gp5βf)3]2
Anchoring strategy: Cystein-maleimide
Optimization: ---
Reaction: CO2 reduction
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: ---
Notes: ---

Metal: Ru
Ligand type: Bipyridine
Host protein: [(gp5βf)3]2
Anchoring strategy: Lysine-succinimide
Optimization: Genetic
Reaction: CO2 reduction
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: ---
Notes: ---

Functionalization of Protein Crystals with Metal Ions, Complexes and Nanoparticles

Review

Ueno, T.

Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2018, 43, 68-76, 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.11.015

Self-assembled proteins have specific functions in biology. With inspiration provided by natural protein systems, several artificial protein assemblies have been constructed via site-specific mutations or metal coordination, which have important applications in catalysis, material and bio-supramolecular chemistry. Similar to natural protein assemblies, protein crystals have been recognized as protein assemblies formed of densely-packed monomeric proteins. Protein crystals can be functionalized with metal ions, metal complexes or nanoparticles via soaking, co-crystallization, creating new metal binding sites by site-specific mutations. The field of protein crystal engineering with metal coordination is relatively new and has gained considerable attention for developing solid biomaterials as well as structural investigations of enzymatic reactions, growth of nanoparticles and catalysis. This review highlights recent and significant research on functionalization of protein crystals with metal coordination and future prospects.


Notes: ---

Immobilization of Two Organometallic Complexes into a Single Cage to Construct Protein-Based Microcompartment

Ueno, T.

Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 5463-5466, 10.1039/C6CC00679E

Natural protein-based microcompartments containing multiple enzymes promote cascade reactions within cells. We use the apo-ferritin protein cage to mimic such biocompartments by immobilizing two organometallic Ir and Pd complexes into the single protein cage. Precise locations of the metals and their accumulation mechanism were studied by X-ray crystallography.


Metal: Ir
Ligand type: Amino acid; Cp*
Host protein: Apo-ferritin
Anchoring strategy: Dative
Optimization: Chemical
Reaction: Hydrogenation
Max TON: ~2
ee: 15
PDB: 5E2D
Notes: Tandem reaction (Hydrogenation and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling) to form biphenylethanol from 4-iodoacetophenone and phenylboronic acid. TON and ee are given for the tandem reaction product.

Metal: Pd
Ligand type: Allyl; Amino acid
Host protein: Apo-ferritin
Anchoring strategy: Dative
Optimization: Chemical
Max TON: ~1
ee: 15
PDB: 5E2D
Notes: Tandem reaction (Hydrogenation and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling) to form biphenylethanol from 4-iodoacetophenone and phenylboronic acid.

Molecular Design of Heteroprotein Assemblies Providing a Bionanocup as a Chemical Reactor

Ueno, T.; Watanabe, Y.

Small 2008, 4, 50-54, 10.1002/smll.200700855

A bionanocup chemical reactor is constructed from a heteroprotein assembly from bacteriophage T4. The preparation of a stable iron(III) porphyrin–bionanocup composite is described. The hydrophobic cup provides a space suitable for the fixation of low‐water‐solubility iron(III) porphyrins. The application of the iron(III) porphyrin–bionanocup composites for the catalysis of sulfoxidation of thioanisoles is demonstrated (see figure).


Metal: Fe
Host protein: (gp27-gp5)3
Anchoring strategy: Cystein-maleimide
Optimization: ---
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: ---
Notes: ---

Polymerization of Phenylacetylene by Rhodium Complexes within a Discrete Space of apo-Ferritin

Ueno, T.; Watanabe, Y.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 6958-6960, 10.1021/ja901234j

Polymerization reactions of phenylacetylene derivatives are promoted by rhodium complexes within the discrete space of apo-ferritin in aqueous media. The catalytic reaction provides polymers with restricted molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution. These results suggest that protein nanocages have potential for use as various reaction spaces through immobilization of metal catalysts on the interior surfaces of the protein cages.


Metal: Rh
Ligand type: Norbornadiene
Host protein: Ferritin
Anchoring strategy: Dative
Optimization: ---
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: 2ZUR
Notes: ---

Porous Protein Crystals as Catalytic Vessels for Organometallic Complexes

Kitagawa, S.; Ueno, T.

Chem. - Asian J. 2014, 9, 1373-1378, 10.1002/asia.201301347

Porous protein crystals, which are protein assemblies in the solid state, have been engineered to form catalytic vessels by the incorporation of organometallic complexes. Ruthenium complexes in cross‐linked porous hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) crystals catalyzed the enantioselective hydrogen‐transfer reduction of acetophenone derivatives. The crystals accelerated the catalytic reaction and gave different enantiomers based on the crystal form (tetragonal or orthorhombic). This method represents a new approach for the construction of bioinorganic catalysts from protein crystals.


Metal: Ru
Ligand type: Benzene
Host protein: Lysozyme (crystal)
Anchoring strategy: Dative
Optimization: ---
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: 3W6A
Notes: Tetragonal HEWL crystals

Metal: Ru
Ligand type: Benzene
Host protein: Lysozyme (crystal)
Anchoring strategy: Dative
Optimization: ---
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: 4J7V
Notes: Orthorhombic HEWL crystals

Protein Needles as Molecular Templates for Artificial Metalloenzymes

Review

Kitagawa, S.; Ueno, T.

Isr. J. Chem. 2015, 55, 40-50, 10.1002/ijch.201400097

Construction of artificial metalloenzymes based on protein assemblies is a promising strategy for the development of new catalysts, because the three‐dimensional nanostructures of proteins with defined individual sizes can be used as molecular platforms that allow the arrangement of catalytic active centers on their surfaces. Protein needles/tubes/fibers are suitable for supporting various functional molecules, including metal complexes, synthetic molecules, metal nanoparticles, and enzymes with high densities and precise locations. Compared with bulk systems, the protein tube‐ and fiber‐based materials have higher activities for catalytic reactions and electron transfer, as well as enhanced functions when used in electronic devices. The natural and synthetic protein tubes and fibers are constructed by self‐assembly of monomer proteins or peptides. For more precise designs of arrangements of metal complexes, we have developed a new conceptual framework, based on the isolation of a robust needle structure from the cell‐puncturing domains of a bacteriophage. The artificial protein needle shows great promise for use in creating efficient catalytic systems by providing the means to arrange the locations of various metal complexes on the protein surface. In this account, we discuss the recent development of protein needle‐based metalloenzymes, and the future developments we are anticipating in this field.


Notes: ---

Semi-Synthesis of an Artificial Scandium(III) Enzyme with a β-Helical Bio-Nanotube

Ueno, T.

Dalton Trans. 2012, 41, 11424, 10.1039/C2DT31030A

We have succeeded in preparing semi-synthesized proteins bound to Sc3+ ion which can promote an epoxide ring-opening reaction. The Sc3+ binding site was created on the surface of [(gp5βf)3]2 (N. Yokoi et al., Small, 2010, 6, 1873) by introducing a cysteine residue for conjugation of a bpy moiety using a thiol–maleimide coupling reaction. Three cysteine mutants [(gp5βf_X)3]2 (X = G18C, L47C, N51C) were prepared to introduce a bpy in different positions because it had been reported that Sc3+ ion can serve as a Lewis-acid catalyst for an epoxide ring-opening reaction upon binding of epoxide to bpy and two –ROH groups. G18C_bpy with Sc3+ can accelerate the rate of catalysis of the epoxide ring-opening reaction and has the highest rate of conversion among the three mutants. The value is more than 20 times higher than that of the mixtures of [(gp5βf)3]2/2,2′-bipyridine and L-threonine/2,2′-bipyridine. The elevated activity was obtained by the cooperative effect of stabilizing the Sc3+ coordination and accumulation of substrates on the protein surface. Thus, we expect that the semi-synthetic approach can provide insights into new rational design of artificial metalloenzymes.


Metal: Sc
Ligand type: Bipyridine
Host protein: [(gp5βf)3]2
Anchoring strategy: Cystein-maleimide
Optimization: Genetic
Max TON: ---
ee: ---
PDB: ---
Notes: ---

Use of the Confined Spaces of Apo-Ferritin and Virus Capsids as Nanoreactors for Catalytic Reactions

Review

Ueno, T.

Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2015, 25, 88-97, 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.12.026

Self-assembled protein cages providing nanosized internal spaces which are capable of encapsulating metal ions/complexes, enzymes/proteins have great potential for use as catalytic nanoreactors in efforts to mimic confined cellular environments for synthetic applications. Despite many uses in biomineralization, drug delivery, bio-imaging and so on, applications in catalysis are relatively rare. Because of their restricted size, protein cages are excellent candidates for use as vessels to exert control over reaction kinetics and product selectivity. Virus capsids with larger internal spaces can encapsulate multiple enzymes and can mimic natural enzymatic reactions. The apo-ferritin cage is known to accommodate various metal ions/complexes and suitable for organic transformation reactions in an aqueous medium. This review highlights the importance, prospects and recent significant research on catalytic reactions using the apo-ferritin cage and virus capsids.


Notes: ---