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SUMMARY:Engineered protein pores as components of soft micromachines - Hag
 an Bayley
DTSTART:20091030T140000Z
DTEND:20091030T150000Z
UID:TALK20210@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Erika Eiser
DESCRIPTION:One goal of synthetic biology is the manufacture of micromachi
 nes from simple parts. Such machines would be motile\, able to generate\, 
 store and use energy\, capable of sensing and carrying out computation\, a
 nd able to take up substrates and convert them to products. We have found 
 that aqueous droplets can be connected by lipid bilayers to form networks 
 in a hydrocarbon environment. We propose that these networks can be used a
 s the basis for the construction of "soft micromachines"\, in contrast to 
 nano- and microdevices made from relatively rigid parts such as DNA and pr
 otein rods.\n\nProteins can be incorporated in to the bilayers of the netw
 orks\, which we have termed "droplet interface bilayers". Therefore\, we p
 ropose that membrane proteins will play a major role in the functioning of
  droplet-based micromachines. Towards this end\, we have engineered the st
 aphylococcal alpha-hemolysin pore by genetic manipulation and chemical mod
 ification to endow it with a variety of properties. For example\, we have 
 been able to alter the pore size\, and its ion selectivity and rectificati
 on properties. We have also altered the pore so that it can be regulated b
 y chemicals\, light and temperature. With these components\, we have shown
  that droplet networks can behave like simple electrical circuits\, be use
 d to form tiny batteries and respond to light. With these subsystems in pl
 ace\, the manufacture of the proposed micromachines may be in the offing.
LOCATION:Small Lecture Theatre\, Cavendish Laboratory
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