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− | < | + | <p>Biosensors are devices that are able to detect the presence of analytes and effectively convert this biological response to an electrical signal. This system consists of three components: a bioreceptor, transducer and detector. The bioreceptor is able to form substrate-specific interactions with the analyte. The transducer is then able to detect the substrate-receptor interaction and transmit this into an electrical signal, which is amplified and processed by the detector. This information is then capable of being sent to a data storage device for quantification and analytical purposes. |
− | + | <em>Our biosensor design will rely on the ability to bind to salivary cortisol and transmit this information to a smart phone application following the production of luminescence. The ability to easily quantify and detect changes in cortisol can reveal critical health information.</em></p> | |
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Revision as of 19:07, 18 July 2018
Biosensors utilizing ligand dependent intein-splicing: Application in a Diagnostic Pacifier
This year’s project will produce a novel biochemical assay for the quantification of a given ligand in solution. To achieve this goal, we will be developing an engineered protein construct that consists of three domains, 1) a modular ligand binding domain, 2) an intein splicing domain, 3) and a split NanoLuc® Luciferase domain. While protein constructs such as this can be applied to a variety of substrates and/or ligands, one chosen application for this novel technology is to detect and quantify the amount of cortisol present in saliva. As cortisol is indicative of the human stress response, we would effectively be able to quantify an individual’s stress at a given time. This protein construct may also be used for diagnostic purposes involving the detection of hormone imbalances. A specific application of this technology is the communication of stress in non-verbal individuals, such as infants. Therefore, we are producing a novel protein construct that links the binding of cortisol to the endogenous human glucocorticoid ligand binding domain to intein splicing together two halves of a split NanoLuc® Luciferase. The splicing event would produce a functional luciferase reporter, and the resulting luminescence would allow for a direct quantification of cortisol levels.
Biosensors
Biosensors are devices that are able to detect the presence of analytes and effectively convert this biological response to an electrical signal. This system consists of three components: a bioreceptor, transducer and detector. The bioreceptor is able to form substrate-specific interactions with the analyte. The transducer is then able to detect the substrate-receptor interaction and transmit this into an electrical signal, which is amplified and processed by the detector. This information is then capable of being sent to a data storage device for quantification and analytical purposes. Our biosensor design will rely on the ability to bind to salivary cortisol and transmit this information to a smart phone application following the production of luminescence. The ability to easily quantify and detect changes in cortisol can reveal critical health information.