Site-Specific One-to-One Click Coupling of Single Proteins to Individual Carbon Nanotubes: A Single-Molecule Approach

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 139; no. 49; pp. 17834 - 17840
• Main Authors: Freeley, Mark, Worthy, Harley L, Ahmed, Rochelle, Bowen, Ben, Watkins, Daniel, Macdonald, J. Emyr, Zheng, Ming, Jones, D. Dafydd, Palma, Matteo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 13-12-2017
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b07362

We report the site-specific coupling of single proteins to individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in solution and with single-molecule control. Using an orthogonal Click reaction, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) was engineered to contain a genetically encoded azide group and then bound to CNT ends in different configurations: in close proximity or at longer distances from the GFP’s functional center. Atomic force microscopy and fluorescence analysis in solution and on surfaces at the single-protein level confirmed the importance of bioengineering optimal protein attachment sites to achieve direct protein–nanotube communication and bridging.