17/18 January 2007 Wiener Neustadt - Czelo

• Photonics, Ellipsometry, Semiconductor Lasers and LED-s, solar cells, integrated optics, biosensing with
molecular recognition devices with multiple binding capabilities. Magnetic mapping for defect recognization.
Major facilities:
• Clean lab (Class 10-10000) for sensor-oriented semiconductor processing with Mask facility
• Structural characterization lab with Electron Microscopy (HRTEM, TEM, outstanding probe preparation), Auger
(High resolution profiling), and Scanning Probe Lab, (STM, AFM, and modeling)
• Nanostructuring lab with FESEM and Focused Ion Beam, SEM manipulation
Contac MTA MFA
H-1121 Budapest, Konkoly-Thege u. 29-33, Hungary
Director. Prof. István Bársony
Phone: +36-1-3922224
Fax: + 36-1-3922226
E-Mail: barsony@mfa.kfki.hu
1. Profile: RTD: Flagellin-based artificial receptors
DESCRIPTION: Biosensors and protein-chips usually apply antibodies as recognition elements. However, these
proteins are expensive, poorly stable and hard to prepare. It is highly desirable to replace antibodies with other
kind of sensing molecules. Flagellin, the subunit protein of bacterial flagellar filaments, is a protein polymerizable
to form long filaments. The central portion of the amino acid sequence of flagellin, which forms the outer part of
the filament, is highly variable, and can be modified by genetic engineering or chemical treatment without
affecting polymerization ability. The concept in this project is to engineer the central portion of flagellin to give it
receptor functionality and/or to give it surface binding functionality, and to use these modified flagellins to build
various filamentous objects. Flagellin-based artificial receptors capable of efficient recognition and binding of
various target molecules are under development using directed evolution and rational protein design. These
filamentous receptor structures may serve as basic recognition units for biological sensors and diagnostic kits
applicable in medical diagnostics, drug development, environmental monitoring or food quality control.
INNOVATIVE ASPECTS: Due to their polymerization ability, flagellin-based receptors can be used to build
various filamentous objects. Starting from a certain type of flagellin receptor, filaments of desired length can be
prepared with a very high binding site density on their surface. Moreover, filamentous receptor structures can be
co-polymerized from differently modified flagellins. These block copolymers can recognize and bind different
target molecules in different regions, or they can be immobilized through a certain region (e.g. via their
specifically modified subunits), while their other parts are involved in molecular recognition.
MAIN ADVANTADGES / BENEFITS:
• Flagellin-based receptors can be easily produced by bacteria in large quantities
• From flagellin receptors stable filamentous structures of desired length can be constructed. Along the filament,
regions providing different functions can be constructed from flagellin monomers of different properties.
• Extremely high binding site density can be obtained on the surface of the filament which allows optical
detection of binding of small ligands.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Filamentous receptor structures may serve as sensing elements in various
types of biosensors including optical waveguide sensors, SPR sensors or micromechanical sensors.
CURRENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMEN
• Flagellin subunits with surface binding functionality has been produced
• Ni- and As-binding flagellin variants were successfully created
• Ni-binding filamentous receptors were immobilized onto the surface of a Biacore chip (without dextran matrix)
and an easily measurable signal was observed upon ligand binding
• A gene library coding for flagellin sequences randomized in the central portion has been created for selection
of mutants with desirable binding properties.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR):Patent pending. (PCT/HU05/00142)
MARKET APPLICATIONS: Flagellin-based receptor structures may serve as basic recognition units for biological
sensors and diagnostic kits applicable in medical diagnostics, drug development, environmental monitoring or
food quality control..
TYPE OF COLLABORATION SOUGH FP7
PARTNER PROFILE: Institute:
Reserach Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest