title: The orientationally controlled assembly of genetically modified enzymes in an amperometric biosensor.
abstract: A novel, nitroreductase (NTR) containing a sequence of six cysteine amino acids, enabling strong thiolate bonds to form on a gold electrode surface without the loss of enzyme activity, was genetically engineered. The enzyme was directly immobilised at a gold electrode without the need for pre-treatment of the surface with a self-assembled monolayer or a conducting polymer. The ensemble was used to develop an amperometric biosensor for the detection of explosives containing nitroaromatic compounds. Preliminary results demonstrate detection levels down to 100 parts per trillion, signifying tremendous promise towards an in situ sensor for the detection of explosives.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Wales Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gwenin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalaji
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D009601:Nitroreductases / Q000737:chemistry*; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D053834:Explosive Agents; D009601:Nitroreductases