title: Creating a bio-hybrid signal transduction pathway: opening a new channel of communication between cells and machines.
abstract: Manipulation of signal transduction pathways presents a viable mechanism to interface cells with electronics. In this work, we present a two-step signal transduction pathway involving cellular and electronic transduction elements. In order to circumvent many of the conventional difficulties encountered when harnessing chemical signalling for the purpose of electronics communication, gaseous nitric oxide (NO) was selected as the signalling molecule. By genetic engineering of the nitric oxide synthase protein eNOS and insertion of light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domains, we have created a photoactive version of the protein. The novel chimeric eNOS was found to be capable of producing NO in response to excitation by visible light. By coupling these mutant cells to a surface modified platinum electrode, it was possible to convert an optical signal into a chemical one, followed by subsequent conversion of the chemical signal into an electrical output.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Newcastle University, Merz Court, Newcastle. NE1 7RU, UK.
authors.forename: Orr
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yarkoni
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donlon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frankel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004566:Electrodes; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*