Intein-mediated Synthesis
Intein-mediated Synthesis - Related Videos
15:06
Synthesis of an Intein-mediated Artificial Protein Hydrogel
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Cited by 2 •
2014
We present the synthesis of a split-intein-mediated protein hydrogel. The building blocks of this hydrogel are two protein copolymers each containing a subunit of a trimeric protein that serves as a crosslinker and one half of a split intein. Mixing of the two protein copolymers triggers an intein trans-splicing reaction, yielding a polypeptide unit that self-assembles into a hydrogel. This hydrogel is highly pH- and temperature-stable, compatible with organic solvents, and easily incorporates...
12:39
Gold Nanostar Synthesis with a Silver Seed Mediated Growth Method
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Cited by 28 •
2012
We synthesized star shaped gold nanostars using a silver seed mediated growth method. The diameter of the nanostars ranges from 200 to 300 nm and the number of tips vary from 7 to 10. The nanoparticles have a broad surface plasmon resonance mode centered in the near infrared.
07:39
Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
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Cited by 5 •
2016
This article describes a process for producing polymeric self-assembled nanoparticles using visible light mediated dispersion polymerization. Using low energy visible light to control the polymerization allows for the reproducible formation of self-assembled worm-like micelles at high solids content.
08:33
Hydrogel Synthesis
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2023
Source: Amber N. Barron, Ashlea Patterson, and Taylor D. Sparks, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT Hydrogels are a versatile class of cross-linked polymers produced through relatively simple procedures and with generally inexpensive materials. They can be formed from solution and involve a polymer backbone formed from monomer reagents, an initiator which makes the polymer reactive and a crosslinking species which binds the polymer chains...
07:47
Reverse Microemulsion-mediated Synthesis of Monometallic and Bimetallic Early Transition Metal Carbide and Nitride Nanoparticles
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Cited by 4 •
2015
A “removable ceramic coating method” is presented in visual format for the synthesis of non-sintered and metal-terminated monometallic and bimetallic early transition metal carbide and nitride nanoparticles with tunable sizes and crystal structures.
FAQs
During splicing, the sequences flanking the intein, called exteins, are not discarded. They are brought into a reaction in which the intein is removed and the exteins become directly connected through a native peptide bond. This creates a continuous protein backbone with a defined junction, supporting production of engineered proteins with controlled sequence organization.
Splicing depends on the presence of specific residues and suitable reaction conditions. These inputs determine whether the inserted intein undergoes self-excision and whether the neighboring exteins are ligated efficiently. They are therefore important design variables: changing the encoded sequence or processing environment can influence formation of the intended tailored protein.
Genetic engineering places the intein between the protein segments before expression, while post-translational processing completes the final joining event afterward. This division lets researchers encode the overall arrangement in DNA but defer creation of the mature protein architecture until splicing occurs. The strategy links programmable expression with a precisely positioned processing step.
Because the exteins are ligated through a native peptide bond, the engineered junction becomes part of the protein's continuous backbone. That feature is useful when the objective is a tailored protein rather than simply producing two associated fragments. It supports bioengineering designs in which precise sequence continuity matters for the resulting protein product.
A typical workflow begins by genetically inserting an intein between the desired protein segments. The construct is then expressed so the engineered sequence is produced, followed by conditions that trigger splicing. The intein excises itself, and the surrounding exteins become joined. The resulting processed protein can then support purification, labeling, cyclization, or semisynthesis.
In recombinant protein workflows, an intein can provide a genetically encoded processing step that helps produce a defined protein form after expression. The same strategy can position a labeling outcome at a selected protein junction rather than relying only on less controlled modification. These capabilities make the method useful for preparing and characterizing engineered proteins.
Cyclization is a relevant application when researchers want to connect engineered protein segments into a closed architecture through controlled splicing. Semisynthesis is valuable when a protein must contain modifications that are difficult to introduce through expression alone. Intein-mediated processing combines an expressed protein framework with precise joining, expanding the range of tailored products available in bioengineering.