1st Edition
Proteotronics Development of Protein-Based Electronics
Protein-mediated charge transport is of relevant importance in the design of protein-based electronics and in attaining an adequate level of understanding of protein functioning. This book reviews a variety of experiments devoted to the investigation of charge transport in proteins and presents a unified theoretical model to interpret macroscopic results in terms of the amino acids backbone-structure of the single protein. It aims to serve a broad audience of researchers involved in the field of electrical characterization of biological materials and in the development of new molecular devices based on proteins and also as a reference platform that surveys existing data and presents the basis for future development of a new branch of nano-electronics, which by mixing proteomics, that is, the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions, and electronics is introduced here as proteotronics.
Preface
Introduction
General on Proteins
Structural Properties
Structure Levels
Protein Folding
Experimental Techniques to Investigate Structure and Functions of Proteins
Classification of Proteins
Sensing Proteins
Type-One Opsins
G-Protein Coupled Receptors
GPCR Activation Models
Structure and Sensing Action
Electrical Characterization
Main Properties of Investigated Proteins
Electrical Properties: Experiments
General
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Model Lipid Bilayer
Immobilization of GPCRs
Experimental Results
Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect-Transistor
Metal-Protein-Metal Structure: Thin Film Technique
Metal-Protein-Metal Structure: Nanolayer Technique
Atomic Force Microscopy Technique
Electrical Properties: Theory
Theoretical Model
Impedance Random Network
Electrical Properties of a Single Protein
Network Properties of the Protein Under Test
Calculation of a Single-Protein Molecular Volume
Conformational Process: General
Conformation Process: Coordinate Model
Conformation Process: Length Model
Topological Investigation
Resistance and Impedance Spectrum
Random Fluctuations in the Impedance Network
Dynamic Fluctuations of the Impedance Network: Oscillator Models
Classical Harmonic Oscillator
Link oscillation model
Node Oscillation Model
Results on Average Quantities
Variance of Impedance Fluctuations
Quantum Harmonic Oscillator
Current-Voltage Characteristics
Bacteriorhodopsin as Testing Prototype
Modeling
Topological Properties
Current–Voltage Characteristics
Scaling and Universality of High-Field Conductance in Bacteriorhodopsin Monolayers
Global Quantities
Generalized Gumbel Distributions
Discussion
Conclusion
Survey of Other Proteins
Proteorhodopsin
Modeling
Topological Properties
Experiments
A Comparative Analysis of Proteorhodopsin and Bacteriorhodopsin Electrical Properties
Protein Resistance
Small-signal electrical properties
Current–voltage characteristics
Conclusion
Bovine Rhodopsin
Modeling
Engineering of Bovine Rhodopsin Spatial Structure
Small-Signal Electrical Properties
Current–Voltage Characteristics
Conclusion
Rat OR-I7
Modeling
Topological Properties
Small-Signal Electrical Properties
Current–Voltage Characteristics
Conclusion
Human OR 17-40
Modeling
Topological Properties
Protein Resistance
Small-Signal Electrical Properties
Conclusion
OR 7D4
Modeling
Topological Properties
Protein Resistance
Small-Signal Electrical Properties
Conclusion
Human OR 2AG1
Modeling
Topological Properties
Protein Resistance
Small-Signal Electrical Properties
Conclusion
Canine Cf OR 5269
Modeling
Topological Properties
Protein Resistance
Small-Signal Electrical Properties
Conclusion
Azurin
Modeling
Topological Properties
Protein Resistance
Current–Voltage Characteristics
Conclusion
AChE
Modeling
Topological Properties
Small-Signal Electrical Properties
Conclusion
Conclusion and Perspectives
Appendix: Computational Details
Calculation of Small-Signal Impedance Spectrum
Analysis of the Protein Equivalent Circuit Obtained from Calculations of Bovinerhodopsin and AChE
Calculations of Intrinsic Fluctuations of the Single-Protein Impedance Due to the Presence of Defects
Calculations of Intrinsic Fluctuations of the Single-Protein Impedance due to Thermal Fluctuations
Calculations of Static High-Field Current–Voltage Characteristics
Inclusion of the Fowler–Nordheim Tunneling Mechanism
List of acronyms
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Eleonora Alfinito is a researcher in condensed matter physics at the University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. Her research activity is founded on quantum field theory, physics of matter, and mathematical physics. At present, her main interests concern with the electrical properties of biological matter, proteins in particular, and the statistical characterization of electrical fluctuations.
Jeremy Pousset is a researcher at the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems of the National Research Council, Lecce, Italy. His research activity has been devoted to the problem of terahertz plasma waves in nano-devices and the development of Monte Carlo codes and the investigation of electron transport modelling of biological matter. Currently, he is working on the electrical characterization of organic materials.
Lino Reggiani is full professor in physics of matter at the University of Salento, where he is carrying out a research activity finalized to the study of electrical properties and fluctuations to characterize materials and devices to be used in nano-electronics and in the development of sensors. He has authored and co-authored over 500 scientific publications in specialized international magazines.
"This book presents the first structured approach to the new field of protein-based electronics, which has opened possibilities for the development of new concepts of nanobiosensors for health applications. It presents a solid theoretical approach which is validated by the existing experimental evidence, and will be of relevance for both young and experienced researchers who are interested in the frontier between electronics and biology."
— Prof. Joan Bausells, Barcelona Microelectronics Institute (CSIC), Spain"This book presents a newly emerging discipline, proteotronics, investigating the coupling between the protein world and electronics. It opens the field of protein-based nanobiosensors that are able to bypass the complicated sequence of biological events for signal generation in e-sensing."
— Prof. Nicole Jaffrezic-Renault, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Lyon, France"Alfinito and her coworkers have made the very first steps of analyzing the electrical transport characteristics of the building elements of potentially important protein-based electronics. Highly recommended reading for all those who are involved with these developments and anybody who is interested in these challenging issues."
— Prof. Lazlo B. Kish, Texas A&M University, USA
