Charge Transport Phenomena in Peptide Molecular Junctions. (26th March 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luchini, Alessandra; Long, David P.; Vaisman, Iosif I.; Petricoin, Emanuel F.; Geho, David H.; Liotta, Lance A.
• Other Names: Rosei Federico Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Research letters in nanotechnology. Volume 2008(2008)
• Publication Date: 2008-03-26
• Subjects: Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2008/853253
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-6849

Abstract

Abstract : Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) is a valuable in situ spectroscopic analysis technique that provides a direct portrait of the electron transport properties of a molecular species. In the past, IETS has been applied to small molecules. Using self-assembled nanoelectronic junctions, IETS was performed for the first time on a large polypeptide protein peptide in the phosphorylated and native form, yielding interpretable spectra. A reproducible 10-fold shift of the I/V characteristics of the peptide was observed upon phosphorylation. Phosphorylation can be utilized as a site-specific modification to alter peptide structure and thereby influence electron transport in peptide molecular junctions. It is envisioned that kinases and phosphatases may be used to create tunable systems for molecular electronics applications, such as biosensors and memory devices.