Abstract
Hydrophobins are a group of highly surface active, self-assembling
fungal proteins. They function as coatings on various fungal structures, work
as adhesive agents, and enable aerial growth of hyphae. In this work we have
focussed on two class II hydrophobins from Trichoderma reesei, HFBI and HFBII
[1]. Langmuir-Blodgett films of HFBI and HFBII analysed by atomic force
microscopy (AFM) showed highly organised two-dimensional crystalline
structures for both hydrophobins [2]. Comparison between AFM data of ordered
films and small-angle X-ray scattering results of hydrophobin solutions [3]
indicated that the unit cells in the films have dimensions similar to those of
tetrameric aggregates found in solutions. The results also indicated
functional and structural differences between HFBI and HFBII that help to
explain differences in their properties. This detailed structural study of
hydrophobin films brings the interest in new options for surface modification
and nanostructured materials.
[1] Linder, M., Selber, K., Nakari-Setälä, T., Qiao, M., Kula, M.-R., and
Penttilä, M., The hydrophobins HFBI and HFBII from Trichoderma reesei showing
efficient interactions with nonionic surfactants in aqueous two-phase systems,
Biomacromolecules 2 (2001) 511-517.
[2] Paananen, A., Vuorimaa, E., Torkkeli, M., Penttilä, M., Kauranen, M.,
Ikkala, O., Lemmetyinen, H., Serimaa, R., and Linder, M., Structural hierarchy
in molecular films of two class II hydrophobins, Biochemistry 42 (2003)
5253-5258.
[3] Torkkeli, M., Serimaa, R., Ikkala, O., and Linder, M., Aggregation and
self-assembly of hydrophobins from Trichoderma reesei: Low-resolution
structural models, Biophysical Journal 83 (2002) 2240-2247.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Event | Oxford 2003 Scanning Probe Microscopy, Sensors and Nanostructures - Heythrop Park, United Kingdom Duration: 23 May 2003 → 26 May 2003 |
Conference
Conference | Oxford 2003 Scanning Probe Microscopy, Sensors and Nanostructures |
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Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Heythrop Park |
Period | 23/05/03 → 26/05/03 |