Inhibiting cytochrome c peroxidase with Au nanoparticles

INOR 304

Michael J. Knapp, mknapp@chemistry.umass.edu and Halil Bayraktar, bayrakta@chem.umass.edu. Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 701 Lederle Graduate Research Tower, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003
Protein-protein recognition is a key aspect of many complex cellular functions, however controlling protein recognition is challenging due to the difficulty of designing molecules that selectively bind to the surface of a target protein. Nanoparticles are commensurate in size with proteins, biocompatible, and possess surfaces that are easily imparted with functional groups through surface protection strategies. We report on the use of mixed-monolayer protected Au –nanoparticles as inhibitors of the protein-protein recognition between cytochrome c peroxidase and cytochrome c.