Recombinant DNA technology allows us to use bacteria as factories for designer proteins. A group of these custom molecules are called genetically engineered polypeptides for inorganics or GEPI

1
Whats the relationship between these two images?
www.extra.rdg.ac.uk/eng/BIONIS/images/burr.jpg
photography.qj.net
2
Whats the relationship between these two images?
www.extra.rdg.ac.uk/eng/BIONIS/images/burr.jpg
photography.qj.net
Velcro and the plant burr that inspired its
invention
3
Biomimetics - term coined by Otto H. Schmitt in
1969 to describe the idea of imitating and
learning from biology.
4
What do these have in common?
visualparadox.com
www.chrisdixonstudios.com
haymarketart.com
i153.photobucket.com/.../s232/impsire/nacre.jpg
www.shanewilson.com
5
Yes! Youre right. They are elegently functional
natural materials comprised largely of inorganic
compounds that have been developed by living
systems over 3.5 billion years of evolution.
And, their properties depend on their molecular
structure.
6
What can we learn from learning about these
materials?
visualparadox.com
www.chrisdixonstudios.com
haymarketart.com
i153.photobucket.com/.../s232/impsire/nacre.jpg
www.shanewilson.com
7
Molecular Biomimetics imitating and learning
from our understanding of molecular biology.
8
Molecular Biomimetics imitating and learning
from our understanding of molecular biology.How
can we build materials, like biological systems
do, at the molecular level?
9
Molecular Biomimetics imitating and learning
from our understanding of molecular biology.How
can we build materials, like biological systems
do, at the molecular level?
Self-assembly refers to a system in which
molecules organize themselves according to their
properties.
10
Peptides, with their specific shapes and binding
properties are ideal tools for nanotechnology.

11
Peptides, with their specific shapes and binding
properties are ideal tools for nanotechnology.
Bacteria are used as factories for designer
polypeptides by simply giving them the recipe
(gene).
12
GEPIs

• genetically engineered polypeptides for
  inorganics
• typically short (8-12 amino acids)
• have been produced to selectively bind to gold,
  titanium, silica, enamel and other inorganic
  materials.

13
Biopanning

• a process for selecting GEPIs with specific
  affinity for a given material.
• homework
• Compare and contrast biopanning with the
  production of antibodies by human B-cells that
  you read about in the article, Fighting Colds
  with Natural Selection. (from Evolution The
  Triumph of an Idea, Zimmer)

14
So, one end of the GEPI binds to a specific
material and the other can be seen as a LEGO
block to which we can attach any number of other
molecules or materials. Hmmm.
15
So, one end of the GEPI binds to a specific
material and the other can be seen as a LEGO
block to which we can attach any number of other
molecules or materials. Hmmm.First alone,
and then with a partner, brainstorm some
potential uses of molecules that serve as
interfaces between organic and inorganic
materials.