Protein Structures Assemble and Disassemble On Command

Scientists have deciphered the genetic code that instructs proteins to either self-assemble or disassemble in response to environmental stimuli, such as changes in temperature, salinity or acidity. The discovery provides a new platform for drug delivery systems and an entirely different view of cellular functions.

The advance was made by researchers at Duke University and is the first time that scientists have reported the ability to create biological structures that are readily programmed to assemble and disassemble. With this knowledge in hand, researchers have opened a new world for designer proteins and investigations into nanotechnology, biotechnology and medical treatments.

The study appears September 21 in Nature Materials.