Design, structures, and applications of an icosahedral artificial protein nanocage, TIP60

Abstract

Many protein nanocages are polyhedral shapes with icosahedral symmetry owing to the geometric constraints defined by Euler's polyhedral theorem, which suggests that pentagonal faces play a key role in creating uniform structures. This principle has inspired a range of design approaches to create artificial protein nanocages. For example, this review mainly shows design, structure, and applications of TIP60, an artificially designed icosahedral protein nanocage produced through a fusion protein approach incorporating pentameric structures. Protein engineering techniques, such as chemical modifications and mutation strategies for TIP60, have successfully added properties useful for various applications, including drug delivery, nanoreactors, and hydrogels. Recent advances in computational protein design can enable precise structural customization. Therefore, the integration of rational design with targeted modifications is likely to become a powerful approach for developing functionalized proteins.