Issue 95, 2023

Localized and regulated peptide pigment formation inside liquid droplets through confined enzymatic oxidation

Abstract

Melanin pigments are found in most life forms, where they are responsible for coloration and ultraviolet (UV) light protection. Natural melanin is a poorly soluble and complex biosynthesis product produced through confined and templated enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine. It has been challenging to create water-soluble synthetic mimics. This study demonstrates the enzymatic synthesis of oxidized phenols confined inside liquid droplets. We use an amphiphilic, bifunctional peptide, DYFR9, that combines a tyrosine tripeptide previously shown to undergo enzymatic oxidation to form peptide pigments with broad absorbance, and polyarginine to facilitate complex coacervation in the presence of ATP. When ATP, DYFR9 are mixed and exposed to tyrosinase, pigmented liquid droplets result, while no appreciable oxidation is observed in the bulk.

Graphical abstract: Localized and regulated peptide pigment formation inside liquid droplets through confined enzymatic oxidation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
29 8 2023
Accepted
07 11 2023
First published
13 11 2023

Chem. Commun., 2023,59, 14138-14141

Localized and regulated peptide pigment formation inside liquid droplets through confined enzymatic oxidation

K. Barriales, S. Kassem, D. Sementa, A. Vidal Ceballos, T. Wang, S. Khandaker, R. R. Abzalimov, A. Jain, S. Elbaum-Garfinkle and R. V. Ulijn, Chem. Commun., 2023, 59, 14138 DOI: 10.1039/D3CC04231F

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