<i>In Cellulo</i> Fabrication of Supramolecular Protein Assemblies

<i>In cellulo</i> protein assemblies, spanning protein cages, filaments, crystals, and biomolecular condensates, provide cells with modular strategies to package, organize, and regulate biomolecules and biochemical reactions. Their genetic encodability, structural diversity, and tunable material properties have also made them attractive biomaterials, where <i>in cellulo</i> fabrication has underpinned their precise assembly and broad applicability. This review surveys major classes of natural and engineered assemblies fabricated <i>in cellulo</i>, with particular emphasis on how their structure, chemistry, and material state shape functions. We compare diverse cellular reactors and outline how intracellular milieu, post-translational modifications, and folding/assembly machinery influence assembly outcomes. Engineering strategies for modifying the assemblies are summarized and mapped onto broad applications across fundamental biology, biomedicine, and nonbiological fields. Lastly, we highlight existing opportunities for engineering and designing <i>in cellulo</i> protein assemblies. Through this review, we hope to give a comprehensive overview of this exciting and rapidly growing field and share our perspective on the possible future directions.

Publication Details

Journal
Chemical Reviews
Published
2026-03-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5c01095
Primary Topic
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

In Cellulo Fabrication of Supramolecular Protein Assemblies

Chemical Reviews
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
article

In Cellulo Fabrication of Supramolecular Protein Assemblies

article en

Abstract

<i>In cellulo</i> protein assemblies, spanning protein cages, filaments, crystals, and biomolecular condensates, provide cells with modular strategies to package, organize, and regulate biomolecules and biochemical reactions. Their genetic encodability, structural diversity, and tunable material properties have also made them attractive biomaterials, where <i>in cellulo</i> fabrication has underpinned their precise assembly and broad applicability. This review surveys major classes of natural and engineered assemblies fabricated <i>in cellulo</i>, with particular emphasis on how their structure, chemistry, and material state shape functions. We compare diverse cellular reactors and outline how intracellular milieu, post-translational modifications, and folding/assembly machinery influence assembly outcomes. Engineering strategies for modifying the assemblies are summarized and mapped onto broad applications across fundamental biology, biomedicine, and nonbiological fields. Lastly, we highlight existing opportunities for engineering and designing <i>in cellulo</i> protein assemblies. Through this review, we hope to give a comprehensive overview of this exciting and rapidly growing field and share our perspective on the possible future directions.

Chemical Reviews
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
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