Bioconjugation & Bioaffinity
Protein fusions with affinity tags are being engineered to enable facile attachment of proteins to materials
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Advances in high throughput screening methods have enabled improved selection of peptide/protein molecules that are capable of binding with solid materials (e.g. polymers and metals) as well as biological targets. These advances are enabling bioconjugation (the linking of biological molecules to other molecules or materials to form a new complex with combined properties) through bioaffinity (the preferential association of biological molecules with other molecules or materials). Application of this knowledge has the potential to lead to the development of novel sensors, bioprocessing systems, and low cost separation strategies.
Our group is exploring engineering protein fusions with affinity peptides/proteins to enable facile attachment to materials and developing new vehicles (e.g. inks) for deposition and targeted conjugation. |
Bioprocessing
Enzyme nanocomposites are being explored as a means to improve the properties of enzymes used for bioprocessing applications
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Next-generation food and materials processing will require more environmentally friendly and specific methods. Enzymes are used by nature to catalyze the transformation of biochemicals, and are often more specific and can be used under more moderate conditions than other approaches. Our research group is focused on employing enzymes, directly, or as part of a whole-cell system to improve extraction, enhance conversion, promote degradation, and enable synthesis.
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Reporter Systems
Reporter enzyme systems are being developed in collaboration with Dr. Sam Nugen at Cornell University to improve the signal and method of detection of phage-based diagnostics
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As the number of partners involved in a food system expands and the need for rapid analysis of food safety and quality grows, there becomes an increased need to engineer diagnostics that are sensitive, specific, quick, and cost-effective. Bacteriophage (or “phage”) are a class of viruses that attack prokaryotic bacteria. Phage function by specifically targeting a bacterium then inserting their packaged DNA. The insertion of phage DNA enables the phage to hijack the cellular machinery of the bacteria to produce more phage. An increased understanding of phage diversity combined with modern bioengineering tools has resulted in the application of phage for the detection of viable bacteria.
Detection using phage can be achieved by inserting recombinant genes into the phage genome to instruct the target cell to overproduce a specific protein following infection. The overproduced “reporter” protein (e.g. an enzyme or fluorescent protein) can then be detected directly or indirectly (i.e. through the application of an enzymatic substrate) using standard methods. While phage-based technologies that utilize reporter systems have the potential to be employed in a number of applications, they are limited by detection sensitivity. To overcome this limitation, our group is exploring improving reporter systems through the use of cascade reactions, nanotechnology, bioconjugation, and enzyme engineering. |
Protein Dynamics
The effect of storage and processing on proteins is being studied to enhance the shelf-life and quality of foods
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Storage and processing of agricultural product can lead to changes in the protein profile, protein interactions, protein structure modifications, and loss or enhancement of protein functionality. As the shelf-life of food products are extended and new processing technologies are developed, it is imperative that these protein dynamics be understood. Moreover, knowledge of the protein makeup will enable the identification of unique biomarkers, which can provide information about storage and processing conditions, identity, and adulteration. Our group is focusing on understanding and managing protein interactions and functionality of post-harvest agricultural products for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing the sensory and nutritional quality of foods.
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