Coupling ion channels to receptors for biomolecule sensing
Nature Nanotech. 2008-09-07; 3(10): 620-625
DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2008.242
Read on PubMed
1. Nat Nanotechnol. 2008 Oct;3(10):620-5. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2008.242. Epub 2008 Sep
7.
Coupling ion channels to receptors for biomolecule sensing.
Moreau CJ(1), Dupuis JP, Revilloud J, Arumugam K, Vivaudou M.
Author information:
(1)Laboratoire des Protéines Membranaires, Institut de Biologie Structurale (CEA,
CNRS, UJF), 41 rue Jules Horowitz, 38027 Grenoble, France.
Comment in
Nat Nanotechnol. 2008 Oct;3(10):587-8.
Nanoscale electrical biosensors are promising tools for diagnostics and
high-throughput screening systems. The electrical signal allows label-free assays
with a high signal-to-noise ratio and fast real-time measurements. The challenge
in developing such biosensors lies in functionally connecting a molecule detector
to an electrical switch. Advances in this field have relied on synthetic
ion-conducting pores and modified ion channels that are not yet suitable for
biomolecule screening. Here we report the design and characterization of a novel
bioelectric-sensing platform engineered by coupling an ion channel, which serves
as the electrical probe, to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a family of
receptors that detect molecules outside the cell. These ion-channel-coupled
receptors may potentially detect a wide range of ligands recognized by natural or
altered GPCRs, which are known to be major pharmaceutical targets. This could
form a unique platform for label-free drug screening.
DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2008.242
PMID: 18839002 [Indexed for MEDLINE]