[ PDB file ] [ PubMed link ]
Hydrophobins spontaneously self-assemble into functional amyloid monolayers at hydrophobic:hydrophilic interfaces. These amphipathic monolayers have amazing physicochemical properties and have been suggested for many different applications. Vanessa, under Margie’s supervision, determined the st ructure of DewA. While the pattern of four disulfide bonds that is a defining feature of hydrophobins is conserved, the arrangement and composition of secondary-structure elements in DewA are quite different to what has been observed in other hydrophobin structures. Her NMR data also showed that DewA populates two conformations in solution, both of which are assembly competent. One conformer forms a dimer at high concentrations, but this dimer is off-pathway to fibril formation and may represent an assembly control mechanism. These data highlight the structural differences between fibril-forming hydrophobins and those that form amorphous monolayers.