Combination of on-chip field amplification and bovine serum albumin sweeping for ultrasensitive detection of green fluorescent protein

Anal Chem. 2009 Jul 1;81(13):5333-41. doi: 10.1021/ac9007607.

Abstract

We report a highly effective on-chip preconcentration method by combining field-amplified sample injection (FASI) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) sweeping for ultrasensitive detection of green fluorescent protein (GFP) on a simple cross-channel microchip device. With the formation of a stagnant sample/running buffer boundary by balancing the hydrodynamic flow and the electro-osmotic flow (EOF), GFP molecules can be continuously injected into the sample loading channel and stacked. We have also demonstrated that BSA is a very effective pseudo-stationary phase for sweeping concentration of proteins in comparison to the commonly used micelles. The combination of FASI and BSA sweeping yields a concentration factor of 3570 and a limit of detection of 8.4 pM for GFP. Using this method, we have separated GFP and GFP-insulin-like growth factor-I (GFP-IGF-I) fusion protein. The entire assay (GFP concentration, matrix elimination, and electrophoretic separation) can be completed within <5 min. Furthermore, we have successfully applied this method for the detection of GFP expression of E. coli cells and the GFP content in single E. coli cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Electrophoresis, Microchip / methods*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / analysis*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / analysis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / analysis
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / chemistry*

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I