Design of a Single Protein that Spans the Entire 2V Range of Physiological Redox Potentials
- Detailed Technology Description
- Dr. Yi Lu from the University of Illinois has designed a single protein to tune its electron-transfer ability across a 2-V range of physiological redox potentials.
- *Abstract
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Dr. Yi Lu from the University of Illinois has designed a single proteinto tune its electron-transfer ability across a 2-V range of physiological redoxpotentials. The design of azurin coversa range from +970 mV to -954 mV vs. standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), by mutating only five residues and using two metal ions. Giventhe wide range of potentials attainable from a single protein possessing thesame overall fold and surface properties, these azurin variants enablesscientists and engineers to take advantage of these water-soluble redox agentsfor biochemical and biotechnological applications such as solar energy transferand other alternative energy conversions. Since tuning the potentials of manyinorganic, bioinorganic and organometallic catalysts can result in catalystswith different oxidation states with dramatically different catalyticefficiency for different substrates, this technology allows tuning of redoxproperties of numerous catalysts for even wider applications, such as smallmolecule activation and synthesis of important intermediates or products forpharmaceutical applications.
Advantages of this method:
- Ability to tune entire range of redoxpotentials
- Tuned azurins can be used as water-soluble redoxagents
Dr. Lu’s research interests lie at the interfacebetween chemistry and biology. His group is developing new chemical approachesto provide deeper insight into biological systems. At the same time, they takeadvantage of recently developed biological tools to advance many areas inchemistry. Research in his lab has resulted in more than 20 US andinternational patents as well as successful products in environmentalmonitoring and medical diagnostics.
- Country/Region
- USA
