Tuning underwater adhesion with cation-π interactions.

TitleTuning underwater adhesion with cation-π interactions.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsGebbie, MA, Wei, W, Schrader, AM, Cristiani, TR, Dobbs, HA, Idso, M, Chmelka, BF, J Waite, H, Israelachvili, JN
JournalNat Chem
Volume9
Issue5
Pagination473-479
Date Published2017 05
ISSN1755-4349
Abstract

Cation-π interactions drive the self-assembly and cohesion of many biological molecules, including the adhesion proteins of several marine organisms. Although the origin of cation-π bonds in isolated pairs has been extensively studied, the energetics of cation-π-driven self-assembly in molecular films remains uncharted. Here we use nanoscale force measurements in combination with solid-state NMR spectroscopy to show that the cohesive properties of simple aromatic- and lysine-rich peptides rival those of the strong reversible intermolecular cohesion exhibited by adhesion proteins of marine mussel. In particular, we show that peptides incorporating the amino acid phenylalanine, a functional group that is conspicuously sparing in the sequences of mussel proteins, exhibit reversible adhesion interactions significantly exceeding that of analogous mussel-mimetic peptides. More broadly, we demonstrate that interfacial confinement fundamentally alters the energetics of cation-π-mediated assembly: an insight that should prove relevant for diverse areas, which range from rationalizing biological assembly to engineering peptide-based biomaterials.

DOI10.1038/nchem.2720
Alternate JournalNat Chem
PubMed ID28430190