ATTEMPTS TO MIMIC DOCKING PROCESSES OF THE IMMUNE-SYSTEM - RECOGNITION-INDUCED FORMATION OF PROTEIN MULTILAYERS

The assemblage of protein multilayers induced by molecular recognition , as seen, for example, in the immune cascade, has been mimicked by us ing streptavidin as a docking matrix. For these experiments, this prot ein matrix was organized on liposomes, monolayers at the air-water int erface, and self-assembled layers on gold, all three containing biotin lipids. The docking of streptavidin to biotin at liposomal surfaces w as confirmed by circular dichroism. Mixed double and triple layers of streptavidin, concanavalin A, antibody Fab fragments, and hormones wer e prepared at the air-water interface and on gold surfaces and were ch aracterized by fluorescence microscopy and plasmon spectroscopy. With the use of biotin analogs that have lower binding constants it has bee n possible to achieve multiple formation and competitive replacement o f the oriented protein assemblages.