Designing nanosensors based on charged derivatives of Gramicidin A

ORGN 205

Steven Blake, stevenb@ucsd.edu1, Ricardo Capone, rcapone@umich.edu2, Marcela Rincón-Restrepo2, Thomas Mayer2, Michael Mayer, mimayer@umich.edu2, and Jerry Yang, jerryyang@ucsd.edu1. (1) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0358, La Jolla, CA 92093-0358, (2) Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2420 Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Ion channels are ultra-sensitive nanosensors that can detect chemical and biochemical analytes in aqueous solutions. The sensitivity of ion channels comes from an inherent capability to amplify a molecular signal by facilitating the transport of millions of ions across a lipid membrane in response to interaction with a single molecule in solution. Here, we present that synthetic derivatives of an ion channel-forming peptide, Gramicidin A, can be used to detect chemically reactive analytes in aqueous solutions. We demonstrate that changing the charge of functional groups present at the opening of the channel through reaction with specific analytes results in a measurable change in conductance through these semi-synthetic nanopores. We will also discuss some of the environmental parameters that influence the performance of these charge-based sensors.
 

Total Synthesis, Materials, Devices and Switches, Molecular Recognition and Self-Assembly, Biologically-Related Molecules and Processes
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Organic Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007