Defined covalent assembly of protein molecules on graphene using a genetically encoded photochemical reaction handle

We have created modified protein variants by introducing a non-canonical amino acid p-azido-L-phenylalanine (azF) into a defined positions for photochemically-induced covalent attachment to graphene. Attachment of GFP, TEM and cyt b 562 proteins was verified through a combination of atomic force and scanning tunnelling microscopy, resistance measurements, Raman data and fluorescence measurements. This method can in principle be extended to any protein which can be engineered in this way without adversely affecting its structural stability. Data files used in this publication include AFM and STM files Raman data (used for figure 11 and in the supporting information) Confocal microscopy data files (used for figure 5 fluorescence images).