Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, report in Small, a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering nanotechnology, published by Wiley-WCH, Germany, how short peptides self-assemble linearly on atomically-thick solid surfaces, such as graphite and MoS2. The research addresses a longstanding challenge in materials science: understanding the complex, sequence-specific interactions between peptides and solid substrates, and the critical role of local hydration structures in guiding nanoarchitecture formation. This work offers new strategies for integrating biomolecules with advanced materials in future bioelectronics and sensor devices.
Biotechnological applications typically exploit the properties and functionalities of biological molecules. For practical biotechnology devices, it is essential to assemble biomolecules on non-biological substrates. Fortunately, specifically designed biomolecules can achieve structural ordering and enable potent bionano-hybrid applications through spontaneous self-organization on such substrates. Still, the mechanisms behind on-substrate self-assembly are not well understood. Indeed, biomolecular self-assembly is not only governed by the structural features of the molecules and the substrate, but also by the solvent in which the process takes place. Recently, a team of researchers led by Ayhan Yurtsever, Takeshi Fukuma, and Linhao Sun from Kanazawa University, in collaboration with Yuhei Hayamizu at the Institute of Science Tokyo and Mehmet Sarikaya from DMXi Dentomimetix, Inc., Washington, USA, performed a detailed investigation of the assembly process of peptides on inorganic substrates; by employing state-of-the-art visualization techniques and computer simulations led by Fabio Priante, and Adam S. Foster from Aalto University, Finland, the team provided new insights into the mechanisms involved, particularly highlighting the critical role of water as the solvent (Fig.1).
The researchers designed short and simple dipeptides, mainly consisting of alternating amino acids with aromatic side groups, tyrosine (Y) and histidine (H) (Fig. 2). The former is hydrophobic residue, which provides water-repelling environment, whereas the latter is hydrophilic, creating a water-attractive background. By varying the number of repeating YH units (3, 4, and 5), the team systematically investigated how these peptides form linear, crystalline structures aligned with the underlying atomic lattice on 2D crystallographic interfaces such as graphite and MoS2.
Using frequency modulated atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM), a technique for visualizing surfaces, the team visualized the assembly of Tyr-His (YH) dipeptides with tandem repeats on cleaved graphite and MoS2. Their findings showed that peptides adopt fully extended, linear conformations aligned with the specific crystallographic orientations of the underlying substrate. Remarkably, the measured lengths of these assemblies, including their hydration layers, matched the peptides’ unfolded states (Fig. 3). These findings highlight the critical interplay between aromatic interactions and solvation effects in guiding peptide self-assembly. Yurtsever and colleagues emphasize that water molecules not only facilitate intermolecular hydrogen bonding but also provide the conformational flexibility necessary for peptides to adapt during assembly, thereby enabling subtle structural adjustments that support the overall assembly process. Computer simulations further revealed that hydrophobic interactions between the peptide molecules and the substrate, along with specific intermolecular interactions, stabilize the observed dipeptide arrangements.
The scientists then performed advanced 3D-AFM measurements to probe the 3D structure of the water around the peptide assemblies. They discovered that peptide-water interactions lead to the formation of heterogeneous hydration shells, which encapsulate the peptide assemblies and create specific binding pockets. These features are crucial for selective molecular recognition and could mediate interactions with other biomolecules. Molecular dynamics simulations corroborated these findings, offering detailed microscopic insights into the hydrogen-bond network that shapes the structure and stability of the hydration layer.
The study by Yurtsever and colleagues provides insights that open new avenues for the rational design and functional control of peptide-based hybrid materials, offering a robust platform for biofunctionalization in biomedical and bionanotechnology applications, including biosensors and bioelectronics. The well-ordered peptide lattices could serve as templates for organizing inorganic nanoparticles with sub-nanometer precision, enabling the exploration of quantum mechanical effects. Moreover, the spatial arrangement of peptide side chains may facilitate the creation of catalytically active sites that mimic natural enzymes, as well as support the immobilization of biomolecules for molecular recognition studies and high-performance catalytic interfaces in electrochemical applications.
The teams are currently focused on further unraveling the local hydration structures surrounding solid-binding peptides, providing deeper insight into how hydrophobic and hydrophilic sequences influence water organization at interfaces and advancing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying peptide assembly on solid surfaces.
Acknowledgements
This work was primarily supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (21H05251, 24K01316, 24H01124, 22H05408, and 20H02564) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan (MEXT) and Research Council of Finland (project no. 347319). This work was also partially supported by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan, and by JST CREST (Grant number JPMJCR24A4). The computing resources from the Aalto Science-IT project, CSC, and Helsinki are gratefully acknowledged.
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About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University
Understanding nanoscale mechanisms of life phenomena by exploring “uncharted nano-realms”.
Cells are the basic units of almost all life forms. We are developing nanoprobe technologies that allow direct imaging, analysis, and manipulation of the behavior and dynamics of important macromolecules in living organisms, such as proteins and nucleic acids, at the surface and interior of cells. We aim at acquiring a fundamental understanding of the various life phenomena at the nanoscale.
https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/
About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to foster globally visible research centers boasting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. Numbering more than a dozen and operating at institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to engage in innovative modes of management and research. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
See the latest research news from the centers at the WPI News Portal:
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Main WPI program site: www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel
About Kanazawa University
As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.
The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa, a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students, including 600 from overseas.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/
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