Specific adsorption of histidine-tagged proteins on silica surfaces modified with Ni2+/NTA-derivatized poly(ethylene glycol)

Langmuir. 2007 May 22;23(11):6281-8. doi: 10.1021/la063719e. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

Silica surfaces modified with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivatives were used to immobilize hexahistidine-tagged green fluorescent protein (His6-GFP), biotin/streptavidin-AlexaFluor555 (His6-biotin/SA-AF), and gramicidin A-containing vesicles (His6-gA). Three types of surface-reactive PEG derivatives-NTA-PEG3400-Si(OMe)3, NTA-PEG3400-vinylsulfone, and mPEG5000-Si(OMe)3 (control)-were grafted onto silica and tested for their ability to capture His6-tag species via His6/Ni2+/NTA chelation. The composition and thicknesses of the PEG-modified surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle, and ellipsometry. Protein capture efficiencies of the NTA-PEG-grafted surfaces were evaluated by measuring fluorescence intensities of these surfaces after exposure to His6-tag species. XPS and ellipsometry data indicate that surface adsorption occurs via specific interactions between the His6-tag and the Ni2+/NTA-PEG-grafted surface. Protein immobilization was most effective for NTA-PEG3400-Si(OMe)3-modified surfaces, with maximal areal densities achieved at 45 pmol/cm2 for His6-GFP and 95 fmol/cm2 for His6-biotin/SA-AF. Lipid vesicles containing His6-gA in a 1:375 gA/lipid ratio could also be immobilized on Ni2+/NTA-PEG3400-Si(OMe)3-modified surfaces at 0.5 mM total lipid. Our results suggest that NTA-PEG-Si(OMe)3 conjugates may be useful tools for immobilizing His6-tag proteins on solid surfaces to produce protein-functionalized surfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Histidine / chemistry
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nickel
  • Nitrilotriacetic Acid
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Histidine
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Nickel
  • Nitrilotriacetic Acid