1
|
Zhuang D, Wang D, Xu J, Tang Z, Ching JJ, Ling TC, Li X, Hong W. Frontiers in Single-Molecule Junction Detection: A Review of Recent Innovations and Breakthroughs. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2025. [PMID: 40393706 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2025]
Abstract
Single-molecule junction techniques offer powerful tools for studying physical and chemical properties at the single-molecule level, while enabling groundbreaking advances in ultrasensitive sensing. This review encapsulates the latest progress made in tracking chemical reactions and intermolecular interactions by employing single-molecule junction techniques. Additionally, we explore their practical applications in detection and sensing of trace chemical substances and biomolecules. Single-molecule electrical measurements, such as mechanically controllable break junctions (MCBJs), scanning tunneling microscopy break junctions (STM-BJs), and graphene-molecule-graphene single-molecule junctions (GMG-SMJ), exhibit exceptional sensitivity and resolution. These techniques allow for precise control and detection at the molecular scale, providing powerful tools for research across disciplines such as chemistry, biology, and physics while also driving new discoveries and advancements in related fields. Furthermore, we highlight the applications of single-molecule junction-based sensing techniques in identifying small molecules and ions in various media, thus contributing noteworthy insights into the design of ultrasensitive single-molecule sensors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dingling Zhuang
- Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Dongdong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jizhe Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Ziyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Juan Joon Ching
- Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Tau Chuan Ling
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Xiaohui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Colombo RP, Nascimento SQ, Crespilho FN. Conductance Channels in a Single-Entity Enzyme. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:10795-10801. [PMID: 39432824 PMCID: PMC11533225 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 09/10/2024] [Accepted: 10/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/23/2024]
Abstract
For a long time, the prevailing view in the scientific community was that proteins, being complex macromolecules composed of amino acid chains linked by peptide bonds, adopt folded structure with insulating or semiconducting properties, with high bandgaps. However, recent discoveries of unexpectedly high conductance levels, reaching values in the range of dozens of nanosiemens (nS) in proteins, have challenged this conventional understanding. In this study, we used scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to explore the single-entity conductance properties of enzymatic channels, focusing on bilirubin oxidase (BOD) as a model metalloprotein. By immobilizing BOD on a conductive carbon surface, we discern its preferred orientation, facilitating the formation of electronic and ionic channels. These channels show efficient electron transport (ETp), with apparent conductance up to the 15 nS range. Notably, these conductance pathways are localized, minimizing electron transport barriers due to solvents and ions, underscoring BOD's redox versatility. Furthermore, electron transfer (ET) within the BOD occurs via preferential pathways. The alignment of the conductance channels with hydrophilicity maps, molecular vacancies, and regions accessible to electrolytes explains the observed conductance values. Additionally, BOD exhibits redox activity, with its active center playing a critical role in the ETp process. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the intricate mechanisms that govern ETp processes in proteins, offering new insights into the conductance of metalloproteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Steffane Q. Nascimento
- 1 São Carlos Institute
of Chemistry, University of São Paulo
(USP), São Carlos, SP 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Frank Nelson Crespilho
- 1 São Carlos Institute
of Chemistry, University of São Paulo
(USP), São Carlos, SP 13566-590, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Garg K, Futera Z, Wu X, Jeong Y, Chiu R, Pisharam VC, Ha TQ, Aragonès AC, van Wonderen JH, Butt JN, Blumberger J, Díez-Pérez I. Shallow conductance decay along the heme array of a single tetraheme protein wire. Chem Sci 2024; 15:12326-12335. [PMID: 39118640 PMCID: PMC11304805 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc01366b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiheme cytochromes (MHCs) are the building blocks of highly conductive micrometre-long supramolecular wires found in so-called electrical bacteria. Recent studies have revealed that these proteins possess a long supramolecular array of closely packed heme cofactors along the main molecular axis alternating between perpendicular and stacking configurations (TST = T-shaped, stacked, T-shaped). While TST arrays have been identified as the likely electron conduit, the mechanisms of outstanding long-range charge transport observed in these structures remain unknown. Here we study charge transport on individual small tetraheme cytochromes (STCs) containing a single TST heme array. Individual STCs are trapped in a controllable nanoscale tunnelling gap. By modulating the tunnelling gap separation, we are able to selectively probe four different electron pathways involving 1, 2, 3 and 4 heme cofactors, respectively, leading to the determination of the electron tunnelling decay constant along the TST heme motif. Conductance calculations of selected single-STC junctions are in excellent agreement with experiments and suggest a mechanism of electron tunnelling with shallow length decay constant through an individual STC. These results demonstrate that an individual TST motif supporting electron tunnelling might contribute to a tunnelling-assisted charge transport diffusion mechanism in larger TST associations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Garg
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, King's College London, Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
| | - Zdenek Futera
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia Branisovska 1760 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Xiaojing Wu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Thomas Young Centre, University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Yongchan Jeong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, King's College London, Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
| | - Rachel Chiu
- School of Chemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Varun Chittari Pisharam
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, King's College London, Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
| | - Tracy Q Ha
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, King's College London, Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
| | - Albert C Aragonès
- Departament de Ciència de Materials i Química Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTC) Marti i Franquès 1 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Jessica H van Wonderen
- School of Chemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Julea N Butt
- School of Chemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Jochen Blumberger
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Thomas Young Centre, University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Ismael Díez-Pérez
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, King's College London, Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ju H, Cheng L, Li M, Mei K, He S, Jia C, Guo X. Single-Molecule Electrical Profiling of Peptides and Proteins. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2401877. [PMID: 38639403 PMCID: PMC11267281 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the application of single-molecule electrical analysis platforms in studying proteins and peptides. These advanced analysis methods have the potential for deep investigation of enzymatic working mechanisms and accurate monitoring of dynamic changes in protein configurations, which are often challenging to achieve in ensemble measurements. In this work, the prominent research progress in peptide and protein-related studies are surveyed using electronic devices with single-molecule/single-event sensitivity, including single-molecule junctions, single-molecule field-effect transistors, and nanopores. In particular, the successful commercial application of nanopores in DNA sequencing has made it one of the most promising techniques in protein sequencing at the single-molecule level. From single peptides to protein complexes, the correlation between their electrical characteristics, structures, and biological functions is gradually being established. This enables to distinguish different molecular configurations of these biomacromolecules through real-time electrical monitoring of their life activities, significantly improving the understanding of the mechanisms underlying various life processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Ju
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072P. R. China
- Center of Single‐Molecule SciencesInstitute of Modern OpticsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterTianjin Key Laboratory of Microscale Optical Information Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringNankai UniversityTianjin300350P. R. China
| | - Li Cheng
- Center of Single‐Molecule SciencesInstitute of Modern OpticsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterTianjin Key Laboratory of Microscale Optical Information Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringNankai UniversityTianjin300350P. R. China
| | - Mengmeng Li
- Center of Single‐Molecule SciencesInstitute of Modern OpticsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterTianjin Key Laboratory of Microscale Optical Information Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringNankai UniversityTianjin300350P. R. China
| | - Kunrong Mei
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Suhang He
- Center of Single‐Molecule SciencesInstitute of Modern OpticsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterTianjin Key Laboratory of Microscale Optical Information Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringNankai UniversityTianjin300350P. R. China
| | - Chuancheng Jia
- Center of Single‐Molecule SciencesInstitute of Modern OpticsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterTianjin Key Laboratory of Microscale Optical Information Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringNankai UniversityTianjin300350P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Guo
- Center of Single‐Molecule SciencesInstitute of Modern OpticsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterTianjin Key Laboratory of Microscale Optical Information Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringNankai UniversityTianjin300350P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular SciencesNational Biomedical Imaging CenterCollege of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringPeking UniversityBeijing100871P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jiang T, Zeng BF, Zhang B, Tang L. Single-molecular protein-based bioelectronics via electronic transport: fundamentals, devices and applications. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:5968-6002. [PMID: 37498342 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00519k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular electronics is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary field that combines biology, nanoscience, and engineering to bridge the two important fields of life sciences and molecular electronics. Proteins are remarkable for their ability to recognize molecules and transport electrons, making the integration of proteins into electronic devices a long sought-after goal and leading to the emergence of the field of protein-based bioelectronics, also known as proteotronics. This field seeks to design and create new biomolecular electronic platforms that allow for the understanding and manipulation of protein-mediated electronic charge transport and related functional applications. In recent decades, there have been numerous reports on protein-based bioelectronics using a variety of nano-gapped electrical devices and techniques at the single molecular level, which are not achievable with conventional ensemble approaches. This review focuses on recent advances in physical electron transport mechanisms, device fabrication methodologies, and various applications in protein-based bioelectronics. We discuss the most recent progress of the single or few protein-bridged electrical junction fabrication strategies, summarise the work on fundamental and functional applications of protein bioelectronics that enable high and dynamic electron transport, and highlight future perspectives and challenges that still need to be addressed. We believe that this specific review will stimulate the interdisciplinary research of topics related to protein-related bioelectronics, and open up new possibilities for single-molecule biophysics and biomedicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Biao-Feng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Bintian Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Longhua Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
- Institute of Quantum Sensing, Interdisciplinary Centre for Quantum Information, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang A, Zhuang X, Liu J, Huang J, Lin L, Tang Y, Zhao S, Li R, Wang B, Fang B, Hong W. Catalytic cycle of formate dehydrogenase captured by single-molecule conductance. Nat Catal 2023. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-023-00928-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
|
7
|
Tang L, Yi L, Jiang T, Ren R, Paulose Nadappuram B, Zhang B, Wu J, Liu X, Lindsay S, Edel JB, Ivanov AP. Measuring conductance switching in single proteins using quantum tunneling. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm8149. [PMID: 35584212 PMCID: PMC9116604 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm8149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Interpreting the electrical signatures of single proteins in electronic junctions has facilitated a better understanding of the intrinsic properties of proteins that are fundamental to chemical and biological processes. Often, this information is not accessible using ensemble and even single-molecule approaches. In addition, the fabrication of nanoscale single-protein junctions remains challenging as they often require sophisticated methods. We report on the fabrication of tunneling probes, direct measurement, and active control (switching) of single-protein conductance with an external field in solution. The probes allowed us to bridge a single streptavidin molecule to two independently addressable, biotin-terminated electrodes and measure single-protein tunneling response over long periods. We show that charge transport through the protein has multiple conductive pathways that depend on the magnitude of the applied bias. These findings open the door for the reliable fabrication of protein-based junctions and can enable their use in future protein-embedded bioelectronics applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Longhua Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, International Research Center for Advanced Photonics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang-California International NanoSystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
- Corresponding author. (L.T.); (A.P.I.); (J.B.E.)
| | - Long Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Science Research Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, International Research Center for Advanced Photonics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Ren Ren
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Science Research Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Binoy Paulose Nadappuram
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Science Research Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Technology and Innovation Centre, 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, UK
| | - Bintian Zhang
- Biodesign Institute; School of Life Sciences; Department of Physics; School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Jian Wu
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang-California International NanoSystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, International Research Center for Advanced Photonics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Stuart Lindsay
- Biodesign Institute; School of Life Sciences; Department of Physics; School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Joshua B. Edel
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Science Research Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
- Corresponding author. (L.T.); (A.P.I.); (J.B.E.)
| | - Aleksandar P. Ivanov
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Science Research Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
- Corresponding author. (L.T.); (A.P.I.); (J.B.E.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pan Z, Chen L, Tang C, Hu Y, Yuan S, Gao T, Shi J, Shi J, Yang Y, Hong W. The Evolution of the Charge Transport Mechanism in Single-Molecule Break Junctions Revealed by Flicker Noise Analysis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2107220. [PMID: 34927352 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202107220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The electronic noise characterization of single-molecule devices provides insights into the mechanisms of charge transport. In this work, it is reported that flicker noise can serve as an indicator of the time-dependent evolution of charge transport mechanisms in the single-molecule break junction process. By introducing time-frequency analysis, the authors find that flicker noise components of the molecule junction show time evolution behavior in the dynamic break junction process. A further investigation of the power-law dependence of flicker with conductance during the dynamic break junction process reveals that the mechanism of charge transport transits from the through-space transport to the through-bond transport, and is dominated by through-space transport again when the junction is about to rupture. The authors' results provide a flicker noise-based way to characterize the time-dependent evolution of charge transport mechanisms in single-molecule break junctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Lichuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Chun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Saisai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Tengyang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jie Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jia Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhuang XY, Zhang YH, Xiao AF, Zhang AH, Fang BS. Key Enzymes in Fatty Acid Synthesis Pathway for Bioactive Lipids Biosynthesis. Front Nutr 2022; 9:851402. [PMID: 35284441 PMCID: PMC8905437 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.851402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary bioactive lipids, one of the three primary nutrients, is not only essential for growth and provides nutrients and energy for life's activities but can also help to guard against disease, such as Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases, which further strengthen the immune system and maintain many body functions. Many microorganisms, such as yeast, algae, and marine fungi, have been widely developed for dietary bioactive lipids production. These biosynthetic processes were not limited by the climate and ground, which are also responsible for superiority of shorter periods and high conversion rate. However, the production process was also exposed to the challenges of low stability, concentration, and productivity, which was derived from the limited knowledge about the critical enzyme in the metabolic pathway. Fortunately, the development of enzymatic research methods provides powerful tools to understand the catalytic process, including site-specific mutagenesis, protein dynamic simulation, and metabolic engineering technology. Thus, we review the characteristics of critical desaturase and elongase involved in the fatty acids' synthesis metabolic pathway, which aims to not only provide extensive data for enzyme rational design and modification but also provides a more profound and comprehensive understanding of the dietary bioactive lipids' synthetic process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Zhuang
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yong-Hui Zhang
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - An-Feng Xiao
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ai-Hui Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Ai-Hui Zhang
| | - Bai-Shan Fang
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhuang X, Zhang Y, Xiao AF, Zhang A, Fang B. Applications of Synthetic Biotechnology on Carbon Neutrality Research: A Review on Electrically Driven Microbial and Enzyme Engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:826008. [PMID: 35145960 PMCID: PMC8822124 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.826008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advancement of science, technology, and productivity, the rapid development of industrial production, transportation, and the exploitation of fossil fuels has gradually led to the accumulation of greenhouse gases and deterioration of global warming. Carbon neutrality is a balance between absorption and emissions achieved by minimizing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human social productive activity through a series of initiatives, including energy substitution and energy efficiency improvement. Then CO2 was offset through forest carbon sequestration and captured at last. Therefore, efficiently reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing CO2 capture are a matter of great urgency. Because many species have the natural CO2 capture properties, more and more scientists focus their attention on developing the biological carbon sequestration technique and further combine with synthetic biotechnology and electricity. In this article, the advances of the synthetic biotechnology method for the most promising organisms were reviewed, such as cyanobacteria, Escherichia coli, and yeast, in which the metabolic pathways were reconstructed to enhance the efficiency of CO2 capture and product synthesis. Furthermore, the electrically driven microbial and enzyme engineering processes are also summarized, in which the critical role and principle of electricity in the process of CO2 capture are canvassed. This review provides detailed summary and analysis of CO2 capture through synthetic biotechnology, which also pave the way for implementing electrically driven combined strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhuang
- College of Food and Biology Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yonghui Zhang
- College of Food and Biology Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - An-Feng Xiao
- College of Food and Biology Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Aihui Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Baishan Fang
- College of Food and Biology Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yuan S, Gao T, Cao W, Pan Z, Liu J, Shi J, Hong W. The Characterization of Electronic Noise in the Charge Transport through Single-Molecule Junctions. SMALL METHODS 2021; 5:e2001064. [PMID: 34927823 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202001064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
With the goal of creating single-molecule devices and integrating them into circuits, the emergence of single-molecule electronics provides various techniques for the fabrication of single-molecule junctions and the investigation of charge transport through such junctions. Among the techniques for characterization of charge transport through molecular junctions, electronic noise characterization is an effective strategy with which issues from molecule-electrode interfaces, mechanisms of charge transport, and changes in junction configurations are studied. Electronic noise analysis in single-molecule junctions can be used to identify molecular conformations and even monitor reaction kinetics. This review summarizes the various types of electronic noise that have been characterized during single-molecule electrical detection, including the functions of random telegraph signal (RTS) noise, flicker noise, shot noise, and their corresponding applications, which provide some guidelines for the future application of these techniques to problems of charge transport through single-molecule junctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saisai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Tengyang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Wenqiang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Zhichao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Junyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jia Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhuang X, Wu Q, Zhang A, Liao L, Fang B. Single-molecule biotechnology for protein researches. Chin J Chem Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2020.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
13
|
Liao L, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Fu Y, Zhang A, Qiu R, Yang S, Fang B. Construction and characterization of a novel glucose dehydrogenase-leucine dehydrogenase fusion enzyme for the biosynthesis of L-tert-leucine. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:3. [PMID: 33407464 PMCID: PMC7788806 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-020-01501-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biosynthesis of l-tert-leucine (l-tle), a significant pharmaceutical intermediate, by a cofactor regeneration system friendly and efficiently is a worthful goal all the time. The cofactor regeneration system of leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) has showed great coupling catalytic efficiency in the synthesis of l-tle, however the multi-enzyme complex of GDH and LeuDH has never been constructed successfully. Results In this work, a novel fusion enzyme (GDH–R3–LeuDH) for the efficient biosynthesis of l-tle was constructed by the fusion of LeuDH and GDH mediated with a rigid peptide linker. Compared with the free enzymes, both the environmental tolerance and thermal stability of GDH–R3–LeuDH had a great improved since the fusion structure. The fusion structure also accelerated the cofactor regeneration rate and maintained the enzyme activity, so the productivity and yield of l-tle by GDH–R3–LeuDH was all enhanced by twofold. Finally, the space–time yield of l-tle catalyzing by GDH–R3–LeuDH whole cells could achieve 2136 g/L/day in a 200 mL scale system under the optimal catalysis conditions (pH 9.0, 30 °C, 0.4 mM of NAD+ and 500 mM of a substrate including trimethylpyruvic acid and glucose). Conclusions It is the first report about the fusion of GDH and LeuDH as the multi-enzyme complex to synthesize l-tle and reach the highest space–time yield up to now. These results demonstrated the great potential of the GDH–R3–LeuDH fusion enzyme for the efficient biosynthesis of l-tle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Langxing Liao
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghui Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China.,College of Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yali Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yousi Fu
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Aihui Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruodian Qiu
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuhao Yang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Baishan Fang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China. .,The Key Lab for Synthetic Biotechnology of Xiamen City, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zeng BF, Wang G, Qian QZ, Chen ZX, Zhang XG, Lu ZX, Zhao SQ, Feng AN, Shi J, Yang Y, Hong W. Selective Fabrication of Single-Molecule Junctions by Interface Engineering. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2004720. [PMID: 33155382 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202004720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in addressing electrically driven single-molecule behaviors has opened up a path toward the controllable fabrication of molecular devices. Herein, the selective fabrication of single-molecule junctions is achieved by employing the external electric field. For molecular junctions with methylthio (-SMe), thioacetate (-SAc), amine (-NH2 ), and pyridyl (-PY), the evolution of their formation probabilities along with the electric field is extracted from the plateau analysis of individual single-molecule break junction traces. With the increase of the electric field, the SMe-anchored molecules show a different trend in the formation probability compared to the other molecular junctions, which is consistent with the density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, switching from an SMe-anchored junction to an SAc-anchored junction is realized by altering the electric field in a mixed solution. The results in this work provide a new approach to the controllable fabrication and modulation of single-molecule junctions and other bottom-up nanodevices at molecular scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Biao-Feng Zeng
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Gan Wang
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Qiao-Zan Qian
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Zhi-Xin Chen
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xia-Guang Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Zhi-Xing Lu
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Shi-Qiang Zhao
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - An-Ni Feng
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jia Shi
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, IKKEM, iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wu C, Bates D, Sangtarash S, Ferri N, Thomas A, Higgins SJ, Robertson CM, Nichols RJ, Sadeghi H, Vezzoli A. Folding a Single-Molecule Junction. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:7980-7986. [PMID: 33047599 PMCID: PMC7662913 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive molecular junctions, where the conductance can be altered by an external perturbation, are an important class of nanoelectronic devices. These have recently attracted interest as large effects can be introduced through exploitation of quantum phenomena. We show here that significant changes in conductance can be attained as a molecule is repeatedly compressed and relaxed, resulting in molecular folding along a flexible fragment and cycling between an anti and a syn conformation. Power spectral density analysis and DFT transport calculations show that through-space tunneling between two phenyl fragments is responsible for the conductance increase as the molecule is mechanically folded to the syn conformation. This phenomenon represents a novel class of mechanoresistive molecular devices, where the functional moiety is embedded in the conductive backbone and exploits intramolecular nonbonding interactions, in contrast to most studies where mechanoresistivity arises from changes in the molecule-electrode interface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanli Wu
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing
Normal University, Nanjing 210023, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Demetris Bates
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
| | - Sara Sangtarash
- School
of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Nicoló Ferri
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
| | - Aidan Thomas
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
| | - Simon J. Higgins
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
| | - Craig M. Robertson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Nichols
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
| | - Hatef Sadeghi
- School
of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Vezzoli
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United
Kingdom
- Stephenson
Institute for Renewable Energy, University
of Liverpool, Peach Street, Liverpool L69 7ZF, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|