Protein Monolayer Electrochemistry

本研究项目由分析和表面化学计划资助。首席研究员，北卡罗莱纳州立大学的Edmond Bowden教授和他的同事们正在研究细胞色素蛋白血红素位点和有机单层修饰金电极表面之间电子传递的基本问题。通过改变金表面的自组装单层修饰，以及对细胞色素蛋白进行精心的定点突变，探讨了蛋白质取向和电子传递距离的影响。利用扫描探针方法、红外光谱和光电能谱对改性涂层进行光谱表征，以确定涂层的结构和性质。蛋白质表面的突变和选择性化学修饰被用来表征蛋白质和修饰电极表面之间的相互作用。从这些研究中获得的基本信息将用于生物传感器和生物医学设备的后续设计。了解电极表面和结合在表面的蛋白质分子之间的电子转移对于抗原特异性传感器和生物分析方法的设计是重要的。本研究项目通过仔细修饰和表征电极表面和与之相互作用的蛋白质来解决这个电子转移问题。从这些研究中获得了电子传递速率过程的详细基本信息，并直接应用于生物传感器的设计。

This research project is supported by the Analytical and Surface ChemistryProgram. The Principal Investigator, Professor Edmond Bowden at NorthCarolina State University, and his colleagues are addressing fundamentalquestions of electron transport between the heme site of cytochromeproteins and the organic monolayer modified gold electrode surface. Byvarying the self-assembled monolayer modification of the gold surface, andby careful site directed mutation of the cytochrome protein, the effects ofprotein orientation and electron transfer distance are probed in thesestudies. Spectroscopic characterization of the modified overlayers, usingscanning probe methods, infrared spectroscopy, and photoelectronspectroscopy, is used to determine overlayer structure and properties.Mutation and selective chemical modification of the protein overlayer isused to characterize the interaction between the protein and the modifiedelectrode surface. Fundamental information gained from these studies willbe of use in the subsequent design of biosensors and biomedical devices. An understanding of electron transfer between electrode surfaces andprotein molecules bound to the surface is important for the design ofantigen specific sensors and bioanalytical methods. This research projectaddresses this electron transfer problem by careful modification andcharacterization of both the electrode surface and the protein interactingwith it. Detailed fundamental information on electron transfer rateprocesses results from these studies, with direct application to the designof biosensors.