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On-chip measurements of protein unfolding from direct observations of micron-scale diffusion.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Yates, Emma V 
Hong, Liu 

Abstract

Investigations of protein folding, unfolding and stability are critical for the understanding of the molecular basis of biological structure and function. We describe here a microfluidic approach to probe the unfolding of unlabelled protein molecules in microliter volumes. We achieve this objective through the use of a microfluidic platform, which allows the changes in molecular diffusivity upon folding and unfolding to be detected directly. We illustrate this approach by monitoring the unfolding of bovine serum albumin in solution as a function of pH. These results show the viability of probing protein stability on chip in small volumes.

Description

Keywords

0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 0299 Other Physical Sciences, Biomedical, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, 1.1 Normal biological development and functioning

Journal Title

Chem Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-6520
2041-6539

Volume Title

9

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J002119/1)
European Research Council (337969)