Adjustable molecular motor micropower biosensor and its application

• US 7,785,774 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Institute of Biophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• Original Assignee: Institute of Biophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• Inventors: Yue, Jiachang
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, NELSON C
• Application Number:
  US11/721,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/5
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/34 involving hydrolase
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/543 with an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals

Abstract

A regulable molecular motor micropower biosensor comprises: a rotary motor, an optical energy conversion device, a signal molecular output device, a power resource system, a protective layer, a supporting material, and a bilayer lipid membrane fixing material. The molecular motor micropower biosensor is used for detecting biological macromolecules, viral molecules, etc.

Claims

1. A biosensor comprising:

(a) a chromatophore, which comprises an F₀F₁-ATPase molecular motor;

(b) a signal molecular output device comprising a light excitation and emission device and a fluorescence probe;

(c) a power resource system comprising water, ATP, ADP, Pi, and visible light;

(d) a protective layer comprising a bilayer lipid membrane;

(e) a supporting material; and

(f) a solid support, wherein the bilayer lipid membrane is attached to the solid support by the supporting material;

wherein a β

subunit of the F₀F₁-ATPase molecular motor is bound directly or indirectly to an antibody that specifically recognizes an antigen molecule, wherein binding of the antibody to an antigen changes a rotation speed of the molecular motor in a manner that can be detected by a change in fluorescence of the florescence probe.

2. The biosensor of claim 1, wherein the fluorescence probe is Lipids-fluorescein labeled outside the membrane.

3. The biosensor of claim 1, wherein the fluorescence probe is fluorescein labeled inside the membrane.

4. The biosensor according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the molecular motor is driven by ATP hydrolysis or synthesis.

5. The biosensor according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the molecular motor is driven by a transmembrane electrochemical potential gradient.

6. The biosensor of claim 5, wherein the transmembrane electrochemical gradient is converted from light energy or chemical energy.

7. A method for detecting a biological macromolecule or a viral molecule at a single molecule level, comprising the steps of:

(1) combining the biosensor according to claim 1 with an antibody of a specific biological macromolecule or a viral molecule antigen;

(2) contacting the biosensor obtained from step 1 with a sample to be tested;

(3) comparing fluorescence intensity between the biosensor obtained from step 2 and a biosensor having not been contacted with the sample to be tested, under light excitation;

wherein a change in the fluorescence intensity is indicative of the presence of said biological macromolecule or viral molecule.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the biosensor binds to the antibody of the specific biological macromolecule or the viral molecule antigen through a β

subunit antibody-biotin-streptavidin antibiotin-biotin.