Strategy of macromolecular grafting onto a gold substrate dedicated to protein–protein interaction measurements

Many biotechnology applications use proteins immobilized on surface. For biosensor, the sensing layer is a key component interfacing the transducer and the sample. Strategies employed to activate the bidimensional surface act directly on the performance of the biosensor. In this paper we propose a novel strategy for engineered proteins self-assembly. Our original supramolecular structure allows a direct and fast covalent attachment of proteins onto bare gold substrate through a homobifunctional cross-linker, 1,4-di-([2′-pyridyldithio]propionamido)butane (DPDPB). In this work, engineered proteins and linker-protein complexes were synthesized and characterized by gel electrophoresis, chromatography and spectroscopy experiments. Macromolecular construction “DPDPB–GST tag-GEC1 protein” was conceived in order to guarantee a 2D architecture enhancing the capabilities of the target (tubulin) to recognize its partner (GEC1). Surface plasmon resonance measurements clearly showed potential of this particular self-assembled protein layer compared to a commercial immunosensor interface. At the concentrations tested, the recognition process occurs between tubulin and the immobilized GEC1; moreover enhanced binding was obtained with the home-made 2D sensing layer more than with 3D carboxymethyl dextran matrix.