Functionalizing Fluorescent Protein for Detection of Explosive Compounds in Hydrogels

Indianapolis, IN

Detecting explosive materials is a major concern in matters of national and individual security. It is very important to be able to detect these materials with high sensitivity and selectivity. We are exploring a fluorescently functionalized hydrogel system to address these requirements. Red, yellow, and green fluorescent proteins are expressed by recombinant E.coli and purified using butyl-sepharose chromatography columns. Fluorescent proteins are functionalized via MSH, a reagent that oxidatively eliminates cysteine residues into dehydroalanine. Functionalized proteins are then copolymerized into polyacrylamide hydrogels as confirmed by electroelution experiments.