Researchers from the Małopolska Center of Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University (UJ) in Krakow informed in the journal Nature about the discovery of a 24-walled protein cage, made of gold ions, whose geometry is contrary to the rules of mathematics.

Krakow researchers belong to an international team led by the British Prof. Jonathan Heddle. The discovery is a step towards the wider use of artificial protein cages with original properties. This could ultimately revolutionize protein therapies or treatments using DNA or RNA, potentially allowing for greater efficacy, e.g. in the fight against cancer.

The long-term research was financed by the National Science Center, and the partners in the project included scientists from the University of Oxford, Durham University in Great Britain, and from Japan, Canada and Slovenia.