Schor M, Reid JL, MacPhee CE, Stanley-Wall NR. The Diverse Structures and Functions of Surfactant Proteins.
Trends Biochem Sci 2016;
41:610-620. [PMID:
27242193 PMCID:
PMC4929970 DOI:
10.1016/j.tibs.2016.04.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Surface tension at liquid–air interfaces is a major barrier that needs to be surmounted by a wide range of organisms; surfactant and interfacially active proteins have evolved for this purpose. Although these proteins are essential for a variety of biological processes, our understanding of how they elicit their function has been limited. However, with the recent determination of high-resolution 3D structures of several examples, we have gained insight into the distinct shapes and mechanisms that have evolved to confer interfacial activity. It is now a matter of harnessing this information, and these systems, for biotechnological purposes.
Interfacially active proteins fulfill a wide range of biological functions in organisms ranging from bacteria and fungi to mammals.
Their physicochemical properties make interfacially active proteins attractive for biotechnological applications; for example, as coatings on nanodevices or medical implants and as emulsifiers in food and personal-care products.
High-resolution 3D structures show that the mechanisms by which interfacially active proteins achieve their function are highly diverse.
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