Orthogonal Enzymatic Reactions for the Assembly of Proteins at Electrode Addresses

The ability to interface proteins to device surfaces is important for a range of applications. Here, we enlist the unique capabilities of enzymes and biologically derived polymers to assemble target proteins to electrode addresses. First, the stimuli-responsive aminopolysaccharide chitosan is directed to assemble at the electrode address in response to electrode-imposed signals. The electrodeposited chitosan film serves as the biodevice interface for subsequent protein assembly. Next, tyrosinase is used to catalyze grafting of a protein or peptide tether to the chitosan film. Finally, microbial transglutaminase (mTG) catalyzes the assembly of target proteins to the tether. mTG covalently links proteins through their glutamine (Gln) and lysine (Lys) residues. Since Gln and Lys residues of globular proteins are often inaccessible to mTG, we engineered our target proteins to have fusion tags with added Gln or Lys residues. This assembly method employs the electrical signal to confer spatial selectivity (duri...