Electrostatic self-assembly between biological polymers \& macroions: Interactions of F-actin \& DNA with lysozyme

ORAL

Abstract

The pathological self-assembly of polyelectrolytes such as DNA and F-actin with cationic antimicrobial proteins such as lysozyme may have significant clinical consequences in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Wild-type lysozyme is a compact, cationic, globular protein which carries a net charge of +9e at neutral pH. Our Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) experiments on F-actin-lysozyme complexes indicate that the wild-type lysozyme close packs into 1-D columns between hexagonally organized F-actin filaments. We will present SAXS results of the interactions of F-actin and DNA with genetically engineered lysozyme mutants that carry a reduced charge of +5e. We have also used fluorescence microscopy to investigate the morphologies and sizes of such bundles induced with divalent cations, wild-type lysozyme, and mutant lysozymes.

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Authors

  • Lori K. Sanders

  • Thomas E. Angelini

    • Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Wujing Xian

    • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Brian W. Matthews

    • Institute of Molecular Biology

  • Gerard C. L. Wong

    • Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Physics and Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • Department of Materials Science \& Engineering, Department of Physics, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Physics, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
    • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • Department of Materials Science \& Engineering, Department of Physics, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois