Di re c t i o n de l a c ommu ni c at i o n
Se r v i c e In f o rmat i o n -mé di a s
Press Release
Biomimetic Nanotechnology: A new type of biosensor
Researchers from the Institut de Biologie StructuraleJean-Pierre Ebel[1]and the Institut de recherches en technologies et sciences pour le vivant[2],have introduced a new generation of biosensors[3].Using protein engineering,they have constructed proteins combining two properties: chemical signal recognition and its transduction into an electrical signal. These novel nanometric sensors could form the building blocks of miniature devices for drug screening, diagnostics, or toxic agent detection.This work was published in Nature Nanotechnologywith a detailed editorial review [Abbas A & Roth BL (2008) Electrifying cell receptors. Nature Nanotech. 3:587-588].
With personalized medicine, biological analysis is bound to move from remote labs to patient point-of-care. Biotechnological research is thus increasingly concentrating on nanotechnological approaches allowing simple and rapid detection of specific informations with portable devices. In order to develop improved biosensors, researchers from IBS focused on proteins involved in cell-to-cell signal transmission. Cells being delimited by an impermeant lipid membrane, the flow of informations or substances is handled by specialised membrane proteins. Among those, receptors identify chemical signals arising from other cells or the environment and ion channels control the ion flux responsible for electrical signal generation.
Researchers succeeded in creating artificial proteins that associate receptors and ion channels. Designated ICCR (Ion Channel Coupled Receptor), these 10-nanometer-wide objects use their receptor component to detect biological molecules (hormones, neurotransmitters) and their channel component to produce an electrical current. These biosensors can detect and signal the presence of exceedingly small quantities of molecules. Their ability to directly generate electrical signals is a key feature for integration within microelectronic systems.
As a first step, biosensors for two major pharmacological targets in order were designed and tested to provide the proof-of-concept of ICCRs. These could serve to build new drug screening assays. They could also be used in other applications such as in vitro diagnostics or detection of toxic agents.
This work, pursued within the framework of the European project Receptronics[4] ( constitutesone of the first accomplishments of the biomimetic approach in nanotechnology.
The principle of ICCRs (Ion-Channel Coupled Receptors). In an ICCR, a natural receptor is attached to an ion channel so that a rigid mechanical link couples the 2 proteins. When the receptor recognizes a molecule X, it undergoes a structural change that is transmitted to the channel. The degree of opening of the channel is consequently modified and the ion flux through the channel is altered. This ion flux is easily detectable as an electrical current.
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Référence de l’article:
Moreau CJ, Dupuis JP, Revilloud J, Arumugam K, Vivaudou M (2008) Coupling ion channels to receptors for biomolecule sensing. Nature Nanotech.3:620-625.
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Référence des équipes de recherche :
Laboratoire des protéines membranaires, Institut de Biologie StructuraleJ.P. Ebel/ CEA - CNRS- Université Joseph Fourier - 41, rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 GRENOBLE Cedex 1
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Contacts presse:
CEA Damien Larroque – 01 64 50 20 97 –
UJF Muriel Jakobiak – 04 76 51 44 98–
CNRS Priscilla Dacher – 01 44 96 46 06–
ou – 01 44 96 51 51 –
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Contact chercheur :
Michel Vivaudou –04 38 78 48 67– .
Christophe Moreau –
[1]IBS: Institute of Structural Biologyfunded by CEA, CNRS, and Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble
[2] IRTSV: Instituteof Technologies and Life Sciences, CEA, Grenoble
[3] Biosensor: device able to identify and signal the presence of a biological substance in the environment.
[4]Receptronics: European projet, started in the VIth PCRD, within the Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences priority, that aims to associate biology, nanotechnology, and microélectronics to create ultrasensitive miniature systemsfor biomolecule sensing.