2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Fabrication off integrated nano-systems by utilizing self-assembling proteins as the building blocks.
| Project/Area Number |
13835001
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
ナノ材料・ナノバイオサイエンス
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| Research Institution | Okazaki National Research Institute (2002-2003)
Utsunomiya University (2001) |
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Principal Investigator |
OBA Toru Okazaki National Research Institute, Institute for Molecular Science, Research Associate, 分子科学研究所, 助手 (30291793)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MINABE Masahiro Utsunomiya Univ., Dept. Applied Chem., Professor, 工学部, 教授 (40007993)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2001 – 2003
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| Keywords | Microtubule / tubulin / photosynthesis / dissipative process / nano-device / chlorophyll |
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| Research Abstract |
We show a nano-device that implements our concept of on-demand use and entropy-saving, and the design strategy underlying it. We utilized naturally occurring nano-tubes, 'microtubules' (MTs), assemblies of cytoskeletal proteins, 'tubulins' (Tubs), to integrate functional molecules at the nano scale ; the assembly of Tubs and disassembly of MTs occur reversibly by switching the temperature. We prepared Tubs conjugated with a fluorophore for light-harvesting and with a photosensitizer-labelled haemoprotein for charge separation, respectively, and mixed them simply. Each time these building blocks self-assembled to form MTs in the assembly/disassembly cycle controlled by temperature, solar energy absorbed by the fluorophore migrated to the sensitizer, leading to charge separation between the sensitizes and the haem : the 'nano-solar-cell' was reused on-demand. The present study would provide a new design principle for nano-scale devices and circuits.
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