Abstract

Electronic components that bridge the biotic-abiotic interface will have vast implications for both studying and harnessing the activity of living cells. While much ongoing research focuses on applying traditional rigid electronics to biology, an alternative is to discover bioelectronic solutions that life itself evolved to interact with the abiotic world. Towards realizing this vision, recent studies at the interface of microbiology, electrochemistry, and physics have uncovered metalloprotein electron conduits and nanowires that electronically link bacteria to extracellular surfaces ranging from environmental minerals to solid-state electrodes. Since this extracellular electron transport naturally evolved to interact with external surfaces, a fundamental understanding has special implications for new bioelectrochemical technologies and living electronics that harness the advantages of microbes in detecting external signals or hosting synthetic genetic circuits.

We will describe our recent progress in understanding extracellular and intercellular electron transport at multiple length scales, from the biophysics of individual multiheme cytochromes to the electrophysiology of whole bacteria and multicellular communities ranging from biofilms to cable bacteria. Using electrochemistry, single molecule tracking, stochastic simulations of cell surface multiheme cytochromes, and lithographic patterning of electrode attached biofilms, we describe how the interplay of cytochrome dynamics and electron hopping can give rise to long-distance electron conduction along bacterial membrane surfaces. In addition, we describe strategies to characterize and harness the electrochemical activity, spin filtering, and conduction properties of bacterial electron conduits in both synthetic structures and living biofilms.

This talk will be highly interdisciplinary and aimed at a broad audience (chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, and microbiology).

There are limited slots available for meeting & chatting with the presenter, there is also the opportunity to meet over lunch or dinner. Please email ASAP j.zhang.group.admin@ch.cam.ac.uk (Alexandra Campbell) with your contact details and preferred option if you would like to take up this opportunity. Postgraduates, PDR As and PIs are all welcome to take up this offer.