Protein Aggregation: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Protein aggregation has traditionally been perceived as a problem, both in medicine and protein processing. This view has recently been altered however, by the discovery of naturally aggregating proteins that demonstrate positive functionality. This is coupled with the realisation that protein aggregation may be a fundamental property of all proteins. Researchers are now seeking to exploit this new knowledge and the process of protein aggregation as a way of producing non-native self-assembling functional nanomaterials.
This article explores the different types of protein aggregates including the 'bad' aggregates, typically associated with disease and processing, and the 'good aggregates' that are associated with natural function or have been designed to display new functions. The article then contrasts these 'beautifully' ordered protein assemblies with the non-specific protein aggregates that occur by other aggregation pathways.