In the field of de novo design of transmembrane beta-barrel pores for stochastic biosensor applications, two complementary approaches to the production of artificial pores are being pursued: firstly, by recombining fragments of known pore proteins to obtain pores of variable size (building block approach), and secondly, by modifying existing protein pores by means of point mutations with the aim of increasing their stability and modulating their conductivity (optimization approach). For details, see here.
Funding: Baden-Württemberg Foundation 2008-2011, Competence Network ‘Functional Nanostructures’ Baden-Württemberg
Project partners: Prof Nussberger (IBBS, Department of Biophysics, University of Stuttgart) and Dr Dirk Linke (Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Department I, Protein Evolution)