Microbial nanowires with increased conductivity and reduced diameters
US11066449B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01B1/12
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Improved electrically conductive pili were generated from a natural pilus protein from the microorganism Geobacter sulfurreducens. Substituting a tryptophan for the phenylalanine at position F51 and a tryptophan for the tyrosine at position Y57 of the pilus monomer substantially increased the conductivity of the pili and reduced their diameter to 1.5 nm. Substantial improvements in conductivity were also achieved by substituting an additional tyrosine, histidine, and phenylalanine in the pilus monomer to mimic the monomer of Geobacter metallireducens, but the pili retained the typical Geobacter sulfurreducens wild-type diameter of 3 nm.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.