Synthetic Biology Applying Engineering to Biology - Europa

Belcher 30
In particular, she has devised an in vitro selection procedure for isolating
uses.
that will recognize and bind to a range of inorganic materials (for example,
peptides
like ZnS, CdS, GaAs), providing a potential interface between the
semiconductors
and inorganic worlds.
biological
In closely related work, Sarikaya 31
strategies to make biopolymers (proteins and other
(combinatorial)
that can act as templates and ‘adhesives’ for assembling
macromolecules)
32 33 and thin films. Vogel and Hess have modified and
functional inorganic particles
system for nanoscale directed transport. They are
kinesin/microtuble the developed
in using these biomolecular machines as ‘molecular shuttles’ and as tools
interested
create complex materials, repair tiny defects on surfaces or in living cells, and to
to
and retrieve information.
store 34
has used several natural proteins, modifications thereof, and protein
Montemagno
in nanotechnological contexts. In 2000 his group modified the rotary
assemblies
motor ATP synthase so that it could be attached to nanoscale metal
molecular
and drive a nanoscale nickel rotor bound to the protein spindle. They have
pillars
used the proton pump bacteriorhodopsin to drive protons against a chemical
also
across the proton-exchange membrane of fuel cells, reducing proton
gradient
and increasing the device efficiency. Montemagno’s group is now seeking to
leakage
these devices into larger-scale integrated systems such as ‘biosolar
incorporate
cells’.
Francis 35
crystallization example, to form metallic/magnetic nanowires), and as
inorganic 36
(for
Erlanger has ‘linked immunology with nanotechnology’ by
vehicles. drug-delivery
antibodies that bind to C 60 and single-walled carbon nanotubes. Zhang 37 is
making
peptide materials based on natural self-assembly principles. He has
designing
peptide amphiphiles that form membranes in which the photosystem of
created
plants can be kept ‘active’ in vitro, so that it might effect light-induced
green
Bayley 38
fibers, adhesives and elastomers. His group has engineered abductin, a
sheets,
found in the elastomeric inner hinge ligaments of bivalve mollusks, to create
protein
for use in thin film technology and in microfluidic and energy storage
elastomers
and are developing technological applications of α-hemolysin, a bacterial
devices,
that forms a heptameric transmembrane pore, in areas including drug delivery
toxin
the construction of biosensors.
and
Developing genomes from using non-natural nucleotides, proteins from non-natural
e.
acids.
amino
indicated earlier, several groups are seeking ways to incorporate new building
As
into biologically generated polymers – for example, non-natural amino acids
blocks
nucleotides. Others are looking for de novo polymers that mimic some of the
and
of biopolymers, such as non-natural oligopeptides with new folds and
properties
is exploring a wide range of biological materials for nanotechnological
is developing genetic and biochemistry
is chemically modifying viruses so that they can act as templates for
electron transport for solar-power generation.
is exploring the expression of protein-based materials that form porous
secondary structures. The motivations here are often for fundamental science, but
30 http://belcher10.mit.edu/
31 http://faculty.washington.edu/sarikaya/projects/projects.html#BiomimeticMaterials)
32 http://www.nanomat.mat.ethz.ch
33 http://faculty.washington.edu/hhess/
34 http://www.cnsi.ucla.edu/faculty/montemagno_c.html
35 http://www.cchem.berkeley.edu/francisgrp/
36 http://www.research.hs.columbia.edu/Faculty_Profiles/profiles/erlanger_bf.htm
37 http://web.mit.edu/lms/www/ and http://web.mit.edu/shuguang/www/resume.html
38 http://bletchley.tamu.edu/homepage/)
27