Electrically induced conformational change of peptides on metallic nanosurfaces

ACS Nano. 2012 Oct 23;6(10):8847-56. doi: 10.1021/nn3027408. Epub 2012 Aug 21.

Abstract

Surface immobilized biomolecular probes are used in many areas of biomedical research, such as genomics, proteomics, immunology, and pathology. Although the structural conformations of small DNA and peptide molecules in free solution are well studied both theoretically and experimentally, the conformation of small biomolecules bound on surfaces, especially under the influence of external electric fields, is poorly understood. Using a combination of molecular dynamics simulation and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, we study the external electric field-induced conformational change of dodecapeptide probes tethered to a nanostructured metallic surface. Surface-tethered peptides with and without phosphorylated tyrosine residues are compared to show that peptide conformational change under electric field is sensitive to biochemical modification. Our study proposes a highly sensitive in vitro nanoscale electro-optical detection and manipulation method for biomolecule conformation and charge at bio-nano interfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / radiation effects*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation / radiation effects
  • Surface Properties / radiation effects

Substances

  • Peptides