The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection

Transferring information using light signals, and detecting these signals, is not only a cornerstone of modern technology, but has been essential for organisms since evolution provided them with proteins - the cell’s custom-built tools - capable of light to energy conversion or photo-sensing. In thi...

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Main Authors: Louisa Reissig, Kirstin Buchanan, Thea Lindner, Marie Kurihara, Po-Chuan Chan, Falk Kibowski, Keiichi Kojima, Simon Dalgleish, Kunio Awaga, Yuki Sudo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Physics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1481341/full
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author Louisa Reissig
Louisa Reissig
Kirstin Buchanan
Kirstin Buchanan
Thea Lindner
Marie Kurihara
Po-Chuan Chan
Falk Kibowski
Keiichi Kojima
Simon Dalgleish
Kunio Awaga
Yuki Sudo
author_facet Louisa Reissig
Louisa Reissig
Kirstin Buchanan
Kirstin Buchanan
Thea Lindner
Marie Kurihara
Po-Chuan Chan
Falk Kibowski
Keiichi Kojima
Simon Dalgleish
Kunio Awaga
Yuki Sudo
author_sort Louisa Reissig
collection DOAJ
description Transferring information using light signals, and detecting these signals, is not only a cornerstone of modern technology, but has been essential for organisms since evolution provided them with proteins - the cell’s custom-built tools - capable of light to energy conversion or photo-sensing. In this study, the use of diverse representatives of the photoactive protein family of microbial rhodopsins as the active material in differential photodetector devices has been investigated. By modifying the internal parameters of the detectors, such as rhodopsin kind, salinity and pH, as well as by tuning the external environment, such as temperature, we could increase the responsivity and speed of our devices by over 2 orders of magnitude, compared to a previously reported proof-of-concept device, to the µA/W and kHz range, respectively. The characteristic differential photodetector transient signal shape could be stably observed for temperatures up to 70°C and related to features in the protein’s cyclic reaction upon light activation, with the changes in photocurrent shape and polarity concomitantly providing information about the protein used in the device. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the use of proteins - the cell’s molecular machines - instead of simple organic semiconductor materials can add secondary sensor functionalities to the device if the stimulus (here through temperature and pH) has sufficient effect on the photocurrent signal to allow calibration.
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spelling doaj-art-1e82819d17e44bc7ab3b24e93f6e605f2024-12-02T08:44:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2024-12-011210.3389/fphy.2024.14813411481341The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetectionLouisa Reissig0Louisa Reissig1Kirstin Buchanan2Kirstin Buchanan3Thea Lindner4Marie Kurihara5Po-Chuan Chan6Falk Kibowski7Keiichi Kojima8Simon Dalgleish9Kunio Awaga10Yuki Sudo11Institute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universitat Berlin, Arnimallee, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Chemistry and Research Centre for Material Sciences, Nagoya Univeristy, Furo-cho, Nagoya, JapanDepartment of Chemistry and Research Centre for Material Sciences, Nagoya Univeristy, Furo-cho, Nagoya, JapanSchool of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomInstitute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universitat Berlin, Arnimallee, Berlin, GermanyGraduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, JapanInstitute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universitat Berlin, Arnimallee, Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universitat Berlin, Arnimallee, Berlin, GermanyGraduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, JapanDepartment of Chemistry and Research Centre for Material Sciences, Nagoya Univeristy, Furo-cho, Nagoya, JapanDepartment of Chemistry and Research Centre for Material Sciences, Nagoya Univeristy, Furo-cho, Nagoya, JapanGraduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, JapanTransferring information using light signals, and detecting these signals, is not only a cornerstone of modern technology, but has been essential for organisms since evolution provided them with proteins - the cell’s custom-built tools - capable of light to energy conversion or photo-sensing. In this study, the use of diverse representatives of the photoactive protein family of microbial rhodopsins as the active material in differential photodetector devices has been investigated. By modifying the internal parameters of the detectors, such as rhodopsin kind, salinity and pH, as well as by tuning the external environment, such as temperature, we could increase the responsivity and speed of our devices by over 2 orders of magnitude, compared to a previously reported proof-of-concept device, to the µA/W and kHz range, respectively. The characteristic differential photodetector transient signal shape could be stably observed for temperatures up to 70°C and related to features in the protein’s cyclic reaction upon light activation, with the changes in photocurrent shape and polarity concomitantly providing information about the protein used in the device. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the use of proteins - the cell’s molecular machines - instead of simple organic semiconductor materials can add secondary sensor functionalities to the device if the stimulus (here through temperature and pH) has sufficient effect on the photocurrent signal to allow calibration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1481341/fullphotodetectionmicrobial rhodopsinMISM photodetectorbiotechnologyimpedance spectroscopy
spellingShingle Louisa Reissig
Louisa Reissig
Kirstin Buchanan
Kirstin Buchanan
Thea Lindner
Marie Kurihara
Po-Chuan Chan
Falk Kibowski
Keiichi Kojima
Simon Dalgleish
Kunio Awaga
Yuki Sudo
The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection
Frontiers in Physics
photodetection
microbial rhodopsin
MISM photodetector
biotechnology
impedance spectroscopy
title The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection
title_full The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection
title_fullStr The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection
title_full_unstemmed The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection
title_short The use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection
title_sort use of microbial rhodopsin proteins in differential photodetection
topic photodetection
microbial rhodopsin
MISM photodetector
biotechnology
impedance spectroscopy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1481341/full
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