(Bio-Inspired Theme) The Engineering of Thermally and Mechanically Activated Nanosensors
Abstract
Some biological sensors undergo structural changes, such as the opening of a large pore, upon matrix deformation. Other biological molecules have the ability to bind heavy metals, such as nickel, cadmium, copper, etc. We have been inspired by these findings to propose a fusion of these biological attributes into a single nanosensor. The long-range goal of this project is identify conditions in which we can utilize a biological mechano-sensor, MscL, to engineer a nano-scale mechanically-activated solid-state relay device. To do this, it would be preferable to design a metal, or nanoparticle, binding site within the pore of this biological sensor that allows electrical conduction only upon mechanical-stress of the matrix in which it is embedded. This would allow stability under conditions of little moisture. Using funding from the BioInspired Concepts (BIC) program of the AFOSR, we have utilized biochemical and electrophysiology assays to identify regions of the sensor that are exposed in the pore lumen. We have mutated these candidate sites to cysteine and histidine regions, amino acids that are known to bind heavy metals. Electrophysiological studies have now confirmed that some of these substituted residues within the sensor do indeed bind metals; however, many of these interactions deleteriously affect the probability or energetics of sensor activation. Hence, we needed to define those regions exposed in the open pore of the stimulated channel. To accomplish this, we have designed and used microbial screens to determine candidates for residues that are exposed only upon sensor activation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA431793
Entities
People
- Paul Blount
Organizations
- University of Texas at Dallas