Specific interaction of desthiobiotin lipids and water-soluble biotin compounds with streptavidin

As shown for biotin lipids (Ref. 1), the formation of perfect 2-D crystalline streptavidin domains can also be observed in the plane of desthiobiotin lipid monolayers. The binding constant of streptavidin with desthiobiotin (Ka = 5·1013 mol−1) is lower than that with biotin (Ka = 1015 mol−1) (Ref. 2). By adding free biotin into the subphase a competitive replacement and a detaching of the streptavidin domains from the desthiobiotin lipid monolayer takes place. Streptavidin domains built at receptor lipid monolayers are still functional. As could be shown, there are two biotin binding sites at each protein molecule that are fully accessible to biotin (Ref. 1). This can be proven by the inter…

Specific recognition, 2-d-crystallization and function of proteins in monolayers

Formation of protein multilayers and their competitive replacement based on self-assembled biotinylated phospholipids.

Based on specific recognition processes the build-up of protein multilayers was achieved using streptavidin layers as a docking matrix. For this purpose, streptavidin was organized at biotin-containing monolayers, liposomes, and self-assembled layers on gold. Thus, mixed double and triple layers of streptavidin, Con A, Fab fragments, and hormones were prepared and characterized by fluorescence microscopy and plasmon spectroscopy. Using biotin analogues with lower binding constants several cycles of multilayer formation followed by competitive replacement could be achieved.