Nano-sized spherical basket.

Decided to make a basket of spherical nano-sized using the technique to make the structure metal ions and molecules come together naturally called "self-organization", was confined one whole protein, teams of Prof. Dai Tokyo Fujita success , was published in the British science journal Nature Communications 2 Date.

Operations are expected to be protected by a cage effect and strengthen the protein nature easily change with changes in heat and acidity, the function of the protein becomes possible, and its application to drug discovery that can be expected.

Stick a protein called ubiquitin to form organic molecules, such as balancing toy, the team he was put into a liquid mix with organic molecules and metal ions with proteins that are not. Then, there will naturally gather 7 nanometers in diameter seeking a stable state, respectively, were placed inside the protein (nano is 10/1 billion) to form a basket.

I I started to be able to study in the world of fine manipulation and terrifying if you thought a little from the previous reference. I think as well as drug discovery, I can also be deployed in various fields of application.



分子や金属イオンが自然に集まって構造を作る「自己組織化」という手法を使い、タンパク質を丸ごと一つ閉じ込めたナノサイズの球状のかごを作ることに、藤田・東京大教授らのチームが成功、２日付の英科学誌ネイチャーコミュニケーションズに発表した。
　熱や酸性度の変化で容易に性質が変わるタンパク質をかごで保護する効果や、タンパク質の働きを強める操作が可能になると見込まれ、創薬への応用が期待できるという。
　 チームは、やじろべえのような形状の有機分子にユビキチンというタンパク質をくっつけ、タンパク質のついていない有機分子や金属イオンと一緒に液体に入れ て混ぜた。すると、それぞれが安定な状態を求めて自然に集まり、タンパク質を内部に入れた直径７ナノメートル（ナノは１０億分の１）のかごを形成したとい う。
　ちょっと前の基準から考えたら恐ろしいほど微細な世界での操作や研究ができるようになったんですね。創薬だけでなく、様々な分野での応用展開ができそうにも思いますね。