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Research themes

• Protein ligases
• Post-translational modifications in bacteria
• Microbial production
• Folding and assembly mechanisms of silk and collagen proteins 

Examples of ongoing research projects

Functional and water-resistant composite materials from crosslinked non-canonical silks and cellulose (CrossSilk)

In this project, funded by the Research Council of Finland (formerly the Academy of Finland), we aim to improve the water resistance of currently available silk- and cellulose-based biomaterials by mimicking the crosslinking of natural silks and leather. The goal is to design fully biodegradable materials with outstanding mechanical properties in both dry and wet states. We hope that the novel crosslinked silk-CNF composite materials developed in the project can be used as a renewable and biodegradable alternative to replace current plastic- and animal-based materials. 

https://research.aalto.fi/en/projects/crosssilk

From post-translationally modified proteins to functional biomaterials (Pro2Fun)

The goal of this project, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Emerging Investigator grant, is to develop methods to produce post-translationally modified structural proteins, including silks and collagens, in bacteria that cannot make the desired modifications naturally. There is accumulating evidence that the post-translational modifications of proteins are essential for the mechanical properties and functionalities of the resulting materials. Yet, the mechanisms behind how these modifications affect the properties of biomaterials are not fully understood, mainly due to technical limitations. Production in bacteria enables obtaining the proteins in an economical, ethical, and sustainable manner. We use the modified proteins to engineer novel functional biomaterials, which have the potential to substitute current oil- and animal-based alternatives.

Interested in working with us? 

Contact: sesilja.aranko@aalto.fi