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Molecular Foundry

NEWSProtein Folding Funnels Apply to Self-Assembly; Should Benefit Biomimicry and Nanosynthesis
November 30, 2012

Adapted from this Berkeley Lab Press Release

AFM micrograph of 2D S-layers assembled on mica shows two different pathways to crystalization, one in which the domans are 2-3 nanometers taller (white circles). Height differences, measured along the dotted black line, were the result of kinetic trapping.

Jim DeYorero and Carolyn Bertozzi led a team of researchers at the Molecular Foundry that demonstrated the concept that folding funnels applies equally to individual and ensembles of proteins. Their findings provide important guidelines for future efforts in biomimicry — technological innovation inspired by nature — particularly for device fabrication and nanoscale synthesis. Also working on this study were Seong-Ho Shin, Sungwook Chung, Babak Sanii and Luis Comolli.

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