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Chaperonin-mediated stabilization and ATP-triggered release of semiconductor nanoparticles

Nature volume 423, pages 628–632 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Various properties of semiconductor nanoparticles, including photoluminescence and catalytic activity, make these materials attractive for a range of applications1,2. As nanoparticles readily coagulate and so lose their size-dependent properties, shape-persistent three-dimensional stabilizers that enfold nanoparticles have been exploited3,4,5,6,7,8,9. However, such wrapping approaches also make the nanoparticles insensitive to external stimuli, and so may limit their application. The chaperonin proteins GroEL (from Escherichia coli) and T.th (‘T.th cpn’, from Thermus thermophilus HB8) encapsulate denatured proteins inside a cylindrical cavity; after refolding, the encapsulated proteins are released by the action of ATP inducing a conformational change of the cavity10,11. Here we report that GroEL and T.th cpn can also enfold CdS semiconductor nanoparticles, giving them high thermal and chemical stability in aqueous media. Analogous to the biological function of the chaperonins, the nanoparticles can be readily released from the protein cavities by the action of ATP. We expect that integration of such biological mechanisms into materials science will open a door to conceptually new bioresponsive devices.

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Figure 1: Chaperonin proteins as ATP-responsive barrels for inclusion of nanoparticles.
Figure 2: SEC analysis of T.th cpn–CdS the nanoparticle inclusion complex and its specific response to ATP in KCl-containing Tris–HCl buffer.
Figure 3: Transmission electron micrographs of T.th cpn–CdS nanoparticle complexes and intact T.th cpn.
Figure 4: Shielding effects of chaperonins on electron transfer from CdS nanoparticles to methyl viologen (MV2+).
Figure 5: Thermal stabilities and relative fluorescence intensities of GroEL–CdS and T.th cpn–CdS inclusion complexes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K. Konishi for his initial contribution to the present work; K. Tsumoto for discussions; J. Oono and M. Nakamura for SEC analysis with MALS. N.I. was responsible for TEM microscopy. We acknowledge support from the 21st Century COE Programs of Research and Education (T.A., Human–Friendly Materials Based on Chemistry; M.Y., Future Nano-Materials), and from the JST ERATO Nanospace program. K.K. acknowledges support from the Nissan Science Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Tokyo, Japan

    Daisuke Ishii, Kazushi Kinbara, Yasuhiro Ishida & Takuzo Aida

  2. Biological Information Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Higashi, Japan

    Noriyuki Ishii

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, 184-8588, Tokyo, Japan

    Mina Okochi & Masafumi Yohda

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  1. Daisuke Ishii
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Correspondence to Takuzo Aida.

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Ishii, D., Kinbara, K., Ishida, Y. et al. Chaperonin-mediated stabilization and ATP-triggered release of semiconductor nanoparticles. Nature 423, 628–632 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01663

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