Creation of a TNT Sensor by Directed Evolution of a G-Protein Coupled Receptor.
Abstract
The potential to create hand held or ever smaller biosensors capable of detecting essentially any chemicals of interest remains an exciting opportunity in general and for TNT detection in particular. The basis for developing biosensors uses the concept of rapid directed G-Protein coupled receptor evolution. Mutation is accomplished by the use of the polymerase chain reaction. Selection is accomplished by the use of transfected melanophores in combination with a digital video imaging system. We have successfully integrated the pigment cells with this apparatus and can now identify the presence of a signal arising from clones present at a frequency of well under 1:100,000 in a cDNA library based on plasmid vectors. as a starting point for the mutagenesis of GPCRs in order to obtain new desired specificaties, a collection of cDNAs coding for receptors from many different branches was developed. At the present time the lab has accumulated on the order of 70 such cDNAs, all of which are set up in plasmid vectors capable of being expressed in melanophores.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 28, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA365475
Entities
People
- Michael R. Lerner
Organizations
- University of Texas at Dallas