Exploring long-range proton conduction, the conduction mechanism and inner hydration state of protein biopolymers.

ABSTRACT: Proteins are the main proton mediators in various biological proton circuits. Using proteins for the formation of long-range proton conductors is offering a bioinspired approach for proton conductive polymers. One of the main challenges in the field of proton conductors is to explore the local environment within the polymers, along with deciphering the conduction mechanism. Here, we show that the protonic conductivity across a protein-based biopolymer can be hindered using straightforward chemical modifications, targeting carboxylate- or amine-terminated residues of the protein, as well as exploring the effect of surface hydrophobicity on proton conduction. We further use the natural tryptophan residue as a local fluorescent probe for the inner local hydration state of the protein surface

SUBMITTER: Mondal S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8152808 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature