Exploring the recognized bio-mimicry materials for gas sensing

This study was undertaken to synthesize peptides that are partially similar to the binding sites of human olfactory receptor protein. First, a putativ e 3-D model structure of human olfactory receptor protein (P30953) was mode led using a molecular simulation method. The computer docking simulation wa s then performed to determine the most plausible binding sites between the model structure and target gases, trimethylamine, ammonia, acetic acid, and o-xylene. According to the simulation result, a series of polypeptide sequ ences, horp61 for TMA, horp103 for o-xylene, horp109 for ammonia, and horp1 93 for acetic acid as recognized molecules were designed for gas sensing pu rposes. Preparing these peptides as corresponding gas sensing probes, the r esults showed a high relative sensitivity response of 6.7 for TMA (probe ho rp61), 5.1 for o-xylene (probe horp103), 11 for ammonia (probe horp109), an d 28 for acetic acid (probe horp193), respectively. These results indicate that peptide mimicking of binding domain on olfactory receptor opens a new window and offers a novel strategy for the further development of recognize d materials for gas sensing. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.