Inside a Shell—Organometallic Catalysis Inside Encapsulin Nanoreactors

2021

Abstract Compartmentalization of chemical reactions inside cells are a fundamental requirement for life. Encapsulins are self‐assembling protein‐based nanocompartments from the prokaryotic repertoire that present a highly attractive platform for intracellular compartmentalization of chemical reactions by design. Using single‐molecule Förster resonance energy transfer and 3D‐MINFLUX analysis, we analyze fluorescently labeled encapsulins on a single‐molecule basis. Furthermore, by equipping these capsules with a synthetic ruthenium catalyst via covalent attachment to a non‐native host protein, we are able to perform in vitro catalysis and go on to show that engineered encapsulins can be used …