Electrical conductors and methods of conducting ions using calsequestrin proteins
An in vitro electrical conductor is provided. The in vitro electrical conductor may include a plurality of Calsequestrin (CSQ) protein molecules. The CSQ protein molecules may be connected to form a tendril, a network structure, or a biological tunnel structure. An electrical device including the in vitro electrical conductor is provided. An ionic transistor including the in vitro electrical conductor is provided. An in vitro method of conducting ions from an ion source to an ion sink is further provided. The method may include providing an electrical conductor including a plurality of CSQ protein molecules and conducting ions through the electrical conductor to the ion sink. The CSQ protein molecules may be connected to form a tendril, a network structure, or a biological tunnel structure.
1 . An in vitro electrical conductor comprising a plurality of Calsequestrin (CSQ) protein molecules, wherein the CSQ protein molecules are connected to an electrode,
wherein the CSQ protein molecules include either a CSQ1 molecule or a CSQ2 molecule, and at least one of the CSQ protein molecules comprises a mutation from an amino acid residue to C (Cys), which is connected to the electrode via a disulfide bond.
2 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 1 , wherein the CSQ protein molecules include CSQ1 molecules that use intermolecular interactions to form a tendril or a network structure.
3 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 1 , wherein the CSQ protein molecules form a biological tunnel structure comprising a CSQ protein dimer, wherein the CSQ protein dimer includes two CSQ molecules either of which is a CSQ1 molecule or a CSQ2 molecule.
4 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 3 , wherein the CSQ protein dimer includes two CSQ2 molecules using an intermolecular interaction to form the biological tunnel structure.
5 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the CSQ2 protein molecules includes an amino acid sequence with at least 95% similarity to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the SEQ ID NO: 1 consists of human CSQ2 protein sequence without amino acids 1-19.
6 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the CSQ2 protein molecules consists of an amino acid sequence with at least 99% similarity to SEQ ID NO: 1, which consists of human CSQ2 protein sequence without amino acids 1-19.
7 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the CSQ2 protein molecules includes an amino acid sequence with at least 95% similarity to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the SEQ ID NO: 2 consists of rat CSQ2 protein sequence without amino acids 1-19.
8 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the CSQ2 protein molecules consists of an amino acid sequence with at least 99% similarity to SEQ ID NO: 2, which consists of rat CSQ2 protein sequence without amino acids 1-19.
9 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the CSQ2 protein molecules comprises one or more amino acid mutations that enhance or reduce conductivity of the biological tunnel structure.
10 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 4 , wherein the in vitro electrical conductor is in a medium with a calcium ion concentration that facilitates CSQ2 protein dimerization.
11 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 1 , wherein the in vitro electrical conductor is an ionic conductor configured for conduction of cations.
12 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one CSQ protein molecule is a CSQ2 protein molecule and the mutation to C (Cys) comprises a D (Asp) to C (Cys) mutation, which facilitates a connection between the CSQ protein molecules to the electrode.
13 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 12 , wherein the D (Asp) to C (Cys) mutation is at amino acid position 348 as defined in a full-length human or rat CSQ2 protein sequence.
14 . The in vitro electrical conductor of claim 11 , wherein the cations are calcium ions.
15 . An electrical device comprising an in vitro electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a plurality of Calsequestrin (CSQ) protein molecules, wherein the CSQ protein molecules are connected to an electrode,
wherein the CSQ Protein molecules include either a CSQ1 molecule or a CSQ2 molecule, and at least one of the CSQ Protein molecules comprises a mutation from an amino acid residue to C (Cys), which is connected to the electrode via a disulfide bond.
16 . The electrical device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a cation source or sink, comprising a composition capable of donating or accepting cations.
17 . The electrical device of claim 16 , further comprising an encasing structure which isolates the cation source or sink from an external environment.
18 . The electrical device of claim 15 , wherein the electrode includes:
a gating electrode in contact with or in proximity to the CSQ Protein molecules, wherein the gating electrode is configured to apply sufficient electric field to induce electrical currents through the in vitro electrical conductor.