Dip-pen nanolithography-assisted protein crystallization

J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Jan 14;137(1):154-7. doi: 10.1021/ja512141k. Epub 2014 Dec 29.

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) to crystallize proteins on surface-localized functionalized lipid layer arrays. DOPC lipid layers, containing small amounts of biotin-DOPE lipid molecules, were printed on glass substrates and evaluated in vapor diffusion and batch crystallization screening setups, where streptavidin was used as a model protein for crystallization. Independently of the crystallization system used and the geometry of the lipid layers, nucleation of streptavidin crystals occurred specifically on the DPN-printed biotinylated structures. Protein crystallization on lipid array patches is also demonstrated in a microfluidic chip, which opens the way toward high-throughput screening to find suitable nucleation and crystal growth conditions. The results demonstrate the use of DPN in directing and inducing protein crystallization on specific surface locations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Nanotechnology* / instrumentation
  • Particle Size
  • Streptavidin / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine
  • Streptavidin