proteeseilles

Proteeseilles is a term used primarily in speculative biology and certain science-fiction narratives to describe a proposed class of protein-based assemblies that form protective skins around cells, organelles, or biomolecules. In these scenarios, proteeseilles are built from modular peptide units capable of self-assembly into sheet- or shell-like structures that can envelope a target. The assemblies may respond to environmental cues such as pH, temperature, or redox state, allowing dynamic opening and closing of pores to regulate exchange with the surrounding medium.

Although presented as a theoretical construct, proteeseilles are discussed as potential tools for stabilizing enzymes in harsh industrial conditions, enhancing biocontainment in engineered organisms, or enabling new nanomaterials with tunable permeability. In practical terms, no consensus definition exists, and there is no widely demonstrated method to synthesize such structures in real biological systems. Critics note that the term blends materials science and cell biology in ways that may be confusing without clear experimental framework. In the literature, proteeseilles are sometimes used to illustrate principles of self-assembly, modular design, and the balance between protection and exchange in biomolecule wrappers. See also protein cages, encapsulation, self-assembly, biocontainment.