Artificially Engineered Protein Hydrogels Adapted from the Nucleoporin Nsp1 for Selective Biomolecular Transport

Abstract

Nucleoporin-like polypeptide (NLP) hydrogels are developed by mimicking nucleoporins, proteins that form gel filters regulating transport into the nucleus. Using protein polymers of a minimal consensus repeat, the NLPs selectively enhance transport of cargo–carrier complexes similar to the natural nuclear pore system. The engineered protein gels additionally have tunable mechanical and transport properties and can be biosynthesized at high yield, making them promising materials for advanced separation technologies.