Voltammetric study of conductive planar assemblies of Geobacter nanowire pilins unmasks their ability to bind and mineralize divalent cobalt

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 46; no. 9-10; pp. 1239 - 1249
• Main Authors: Cosert, Krista M., Reguera, Gemma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.10.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Binding; Bioavailability; Biocatalysis - Original Paper; Biochemistry; Biocompatibility; Bioinformatics; Biomaterials; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical materials; Biotechnology; Carbon dioxide; Charge transfer; Cobalt; Cobalt - chemistry; Conductivity; Diffusion rate; Electric Conductivity; Electrodes; Fimbriae Proteins - chemistry; Fimbriae, Bacterial - chemistry; Genetic Engineering; Geobacter; Geobacter - chemistry; Gold; Heavy metals; Immobilization; Inorganic Chemistry; Kinetics; Life Sciences; Metals; Microbiology; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nanowires; Oxidation; Oxides - chemistry; Peptides; Pili; Pilin; Reaction kinetics; Reduction (metal working); Self-assembly; Voltammetry; Nanoparticles; Type IV pili; Bioremediation; Extracellular electron transfer; Divalent cobalt
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-019-02167-5

Geobacter bacteria assemble a helical peptide of the Type IVa pilin subclass as conductive pili decorated with metal binding and reduction sites. We used recombinant techniques to synthesize thiolated pilin derivatives and self-assembled them on gold electrodes as a monolayer that concentrated the metal traps at the liquid interface. Cyclic and step potential voltammetry demonstrated the conductivity of the pilin films and their ability to bind and reductively precipitate divalent cobalt (Co 2+ ) in a diffusion-controlled reaction characterized by fast binding kinetics, efficient charge transfer, and three-dimensional nanoparticle growth at discreet sites. Furthermore, cobalt oxidation at the pilin film was slower than on bare gold, consistent with a peptide optimized for metal immobilization. These properties make recombinant pilins attractive building blocks for the synthesis of novel biomaterials for the immobilization of toxic cationic metals that, like Co 2+ , are sparingly soluble and, thus, less mobile and bioavailable as reduced species.