Biosensors from membrane proteins reconstituted in polymerized lipid bilayers

摘要

A compact and portable biosensor which can detect the presense of an environmental stimulus is produced by extracting cell membrane proteins which are specific for the stimulus, purifying the proteins, and reincorporating the proteins into synthetic membranes. Electrodes are used to measure the voltage or current changes across the membrane when the proteins in the synthetic membranes react to the specific stimulus. The magnitude of the changes indicate the concentration of the stimulus in the environment.