@article{RatHeibyBunzetal.2018,
  author    = {Rat, Charlotte and Heiby, Julia C. and Bunz, Jessica P. and Neuweiler, Hannes},
  title     = {Two-step self-assembly of a spider silk molecular clamp},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41467-018-07227-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-225016},
  pages     = {4779, 1-11},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Web spiders synthesize silk fibers of unique strength and extensibility through the controlled self-assembly of protein building blocks, so-called spidroins. The spidroin C-terminal domain is highly conserved and connects two polypeptide chains through formation of an all-helical, intertwined dimer. Here we use contact-induced fluorescence self-quenching and resonance energy transfer in combination with far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy as three orthogonal structural probes to dissect the mechanism of folding and dimerization of a spidroin C-terminal domain from the major ampullate gland of the nursery web spider Euprosthenops australis. We show that helices forming the dimer core assemble very rapidly and fold on association. Subsequently, peripheral helices fold and dock slowly onto the preformed core. Lability of outer helices facilitates formation of a highly expanded, partially folded dimer. The high end-to-end distance of chain termini in the partially folded dimer suggests an extensibility module that contributes to elasticity of spider silk.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HeibyGoretzkiJohnsonetal.2019,
  author    = {Heiby, Julia C. and Goretzki, Benedikt and Johnson, Christopher M. and Hellmich, Ute A. and Neuweiler, Hannes},
  title     = {Methionine in a protein hydrophobic core drives tight interactions required for assembly of spider silk},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41467-019-12365-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202539},
  pages     = {4378},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Web spiders connect silk proteins, so-called spidroins, into fibers of extraordinary toughness. The spidroin N-terminal domain (NTD) plays a pivotal role in this process: it polymerizes spidroins through a complex mechanism of dimerization. Here we analyze sequences of spidroin NTDs and find an unusually high content of the amino acid methionine. We simultaneously mutate all methionines present in the hydrophobic core of a spidroin NTD from a nursery web spider's dragline silk to leucine. The mutated NTD is strongly stabilized and folds at the theoretical speed limit. The structure of the mutant is preserved, yet its ability to dimerize is substantially impaired. We find that side chains of core methionines serve to mobilize the fold, which can thereby access various conformations and adapt the association interface for tight binding. Methionine in a hydrophobic core equips a protein with the capacity to dynamically change shape and thus to optimize its function.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Selby2022,
  author    = {Selby, Joshua},
  title     = {Design and Chiroptical Properties of Chirally Substituted Indolenine Squaraine Mono-, Oligo-, and Polymers},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-28206},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-282067},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {A series of monomeric chirally substituted indolenine squaraine monomers were successfully synthesized and utilized for the construction of various oligo- and polymers, in order to study their chiroptical properties in terms of exciton chirality. The quaternary carbon atom at the 3-position of the indolenine subunit, as well as the alkyl side chain attached to the indolenine nitrogen were selected as the most suitable site for chiral functionalization. For the C(3)-chiral derivatives, two synthetic routes depending on the desired substitution at the stereogenic center were established. The chiral side chains were prepared via Evans asymmetric alkylation where the resulting branching point at the 2 position constituted the chiral center. While the chiral substitution only had minor effects on the linear optical properties and geometric structure of the chromophore, all compounds exhibited a distinct and measurable CD signal that correlated with the distance of the chiral center to the central chromophore. Polymers bearing chiral side chains exhibited a solvent- and temperature-dependent helix-coil equilibrium, which was influenced by the type of side chain used. CD spectroscopy revealed the helical conformation to possess a preferred twist sense, and temperature-dependent measurements showed the degree of homohelicity to be nearly complete in certain cases. Furthermore, a CPL signal was able to be obtained for the helical conformer of one polymer. Various (co)oligo- and polymers comprising the C(3)-chiral monomers only displayed a solvent-independent J-type absorption behavior and thus did not form helical conformations in solution. CD spectroscopy revealed a solvent-dependent adoption of quasi-enantiomeric conformers, which was elucidated by quantum chemical TDDFT calculations.},
  subject      = {Squaraine},
  language  = {en}
}