Quantitative studies of carbohydrate-protein interaction using functionalized bacterial spores in solution and on chips

Abstract

Carbohydrate-protein interaction is one of the most important molecular events deemed critical for numerous biological processes. Therefore, understanding this interaction is essential. In this study, we used bacterial spore display techniques to present multiple copies of streptavidin on the surface of spores to explore carbohydrate-protein interaction in solution and on chips. By applying bacterial spores displaying streptavidin, we developed a new method which allows sensitive, versatile, and passive detection of carbohydrate-protein interactions with a 10-fold increase in sensitivity. The linear relationship of interactions between carbohydrates and labeled concanavalin A (con A) in solution and on functionalized bacterial spore chips has also been confirmed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of development and characterization of binding behavior in carbohydrateprotein interactions using bacterial spore-displayed streptavidin. We believe this strategy may enable new high-throughput screening of carbohydrate interactions as well as establish a basis for monitoring inhibitors of carbohydrate-binding proteins when developing new drugs.