Two-dimensional (2D) crystallization of engineered proteins: A review

Abstract

Protein two-dimensional (2D) crystallization denotes the supreme degree of its ordering, thus 2D protein crystals can be applied in diverse fields ranging from structural biology to materials science with unique performances. To date, 2D crystallization of proteins, especially engineered proteins, is emerging as a powerful tool for bottom-up approaches to the nanofabrication of functional structures. However, till now there is still lack of general method of forming 2D crystals of proteins due to limited understanding of the 2D crystallization process, and the self-assembly of 2D protein crystals often suffers from point defects and grain boundaries resulting from homogeneous nucleation and uncontrollable crystal growth. In this review, we will introduce some aspects of 2D protein crystallization, including key approaches to growing 2D protein crystals and their potential applications in various fields.