Creating Cytochrome Wires for Sustainable Biotechnology

含有紧密堆积的血红素辅助因子链的蛋白质是一类令人着迷的生物分子纳米线。这些由细菌产生的细胞色素蛋白质已经进化为能够在从纳米到几十微米的距离内传导电子。它们的特性为微生物燃料电池生产绿色电力提供了基础，并为新兴电子技术中的可再生元件提供了令人兴奋的前景。受到这些机会的启发，这个项目将致力于生物和物理科学的结合，通过为细胞色素导线配备非规范氨基酸来增强它们的性能。该项目建立在我们研究白氏杆菌细胞色素生物线结构和功能的专业知识的基础上，并将广泛使用遗传密码扩展来结合非规范氨基酸。

Proteins containing chains of close-packed heme cofactors are a fascinating class of biomolecular nanowire. Produced by bacteria these cytochrome proteins have evolved to conduct electrons over distances ranging from nanometres to tens of microns. Their properties underpin the production of green electricity by microbial fuel cells and offer exciting prospects for renewable components in emerging electronic technologies. Inspired by these opportunities, this project will work at the interface of biological and physical sciences to enhance the properties of cytochrome wires by equipping them with non-canonical amino acids.The project builds on our expertise studying the structure and function of cytochrome biowires from Shewanella oneidensis and will make extensive use of genetic-code expansion for the incorporation of non-canonical amino acids.