Cover Image, Volume 107, Issue 10

Recombinant DNA technology and protein engineering techniques provide a path to increase structural and functional complexity of natural biopolymers for tissue engineering and broader biomaterial applications. Tijana Z. Grove et al. present the bacterial expression, purification and solution characterization of the human hair keratins K31 and K81. Investigations of homopolymerization processes and solution behavior of K31 and K81 reveal new zero‐ and one‐dimensional nanostructures. Although homooligomeric structures have not been observed in nature, and are likely aberrant structures in natural materials, their existence in vitro expands the design scope for potential new biomaterials. (DOI: 10.1002/bip.23037)
Source: Biopolymers - Category: Biochemistry Tags: COVER IMAGE Source Type: research