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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.

Protein cages have been utilized as templates in the development of biomaterials. Here we report protein engineering of the ferritin (Fr) cage for encapsulating carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) and release of CO gas which serves as a cell signaling molecule. The protein cages enable us to increase the half-life for CO release, providing a release rate that is 18-fold slower than the rate of a typical CORM, Ru(CO)3Cl(glycinate) (CORM-3). Moreover, the uptake ratio of the composite is about 4-fold greater than that of CORM-3. We found that these effects enhance the activation of nuclear factor κB 10-fold higher than CORM-3. The protein cage of Fr thus provides the basis for new CORMs that can be used for in vitro cell research.

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., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

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.

Hybridization of metal complexes and protein scaffolds is an important subject in bioinorganic chemistry and materials science. Efforts to provide non-natural functions to proteins will likely lead to advances in development of catalysts, sensors, and so on. Mechanistic investigations of the process of binding of metal complexes within protein scaffolds and characterization of the resulting coordination structures will help us to design and control coordination structures of metal complexes for construction of hybrid proteins containing metal complexes. In this work, the processes of accumulation and incorporation of organometallic palladium complexes within the cage of the iron storage protein apo-ferritin (apo-Fr) are elucidated by analysis of X-ray crystal structures of apo-Fr and selected mutants thereof, in the presence of the metal complexes. The crystal structure of apo-Fr containing Pd(allyl) (allyl = eta(3)-C(3)H(5)) complexes shows that thiolato-bridged dinuclear Pd(allyl) complexes are formed at two binding sites within the cage of apo-Fr. The crystal structures of apo-Fr and its Cys- and His-deletion mutants containing Pd(allyl) complexes indicate that Cys126 accelerates the incorporation of Pd(allyl) complexes into the cage. In addition, Cys48 and Cys126 are essential for accumulation of Pd(allyl) complexes and stabilizing the square planar coordination structure.

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.

We report the preparation of organometallic Pd(allyl) dinuclear complexes in protein cages of apo-Fr by reactions with [Pd(allyl)Cl]2 (allyl = eta3-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.

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Design of artificial metalloproteins is one of the most important subjects in the field of bioinorganic chemistry. In order to prepare them, vacant space of proteins has been utilized because it gives us unique chemical environment to construct catalysts and materials. This article reviews on preparation methods and properties of metal/protein composites. The discussion includes our recent results and development in the screening of composites, crystal structures, molecular design of bio-inspired systems concerning catalysts, electrochemistry, and materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]