Systems, apparatuses and methods for reading an amino acid sequence

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to amino acid, modified amino acid, peptide and protein identification and sequencing, by means of, for example, electronic detection of individual amino acids or small peptides.

1 . An apparatus for sequencing and/or identifying at least one of protein, peptide, amino acid and/or modified amino acid, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of electrodes;   at least a first electrode of the plurality of the electrodes being functionalized with a molecule strongly bonded to at least the first electrode and that forms transient bonds with an amino acid;   voltage bias means for applying a voltage between the first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged such that a gap is produced between them; and   current data monitoring means for monitoring current passing between the first and second electrodes upon a solution containing at least one of protein, peptide, amino acid, and/or modified amino acid being passed in the gap established between the first and the second electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for recording and/or storing data corresponding to the monitored current. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a database and processing means, wherein the database includes data associated with characteristic current signatures for a plurality of proteins, peptides, amino acids, and/or modified amino acids, and/or derivatives thereof, and wherein the processing means compares such stored signatures with the collected current data to determine the identity of the protein, peptide, amino acid and/or modified amino acid. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the chirality of an amino acid is determined from the current data. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more proteases for digesting a peptide, the proteases being arranged in proximity to the first and second electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the proteases are provided on a bead. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one carboxypeptidase for digesting a peptide or protein from its C-terminus, the peptidase being arranged in proximity to the first and second electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one aminopeptidase for digesting a peptide or protein from its N-terminus, the peptidase being arranged in proximity to the first and second electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more proteins, peptides, amino acids and/or modified amino acids on a bead to be sequenced using Edman chemistry. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more proteases for digesting a protein and/or peptide, the proteases being arranged in proximity to the first and second electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance between electrodes is adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the proteases are provided on a bead. 
     
     
         13 . A system for sequencing at least one of protein, peptide, and/or amino acids comprising the apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 one or more proteases arranged in proximity to at least one of the electrodes for digesting a protein and/or peptide, and   injection means for injecting at least one reagent into the solution, wherein the activity of the proteases are synchronized via an injection of a reagent by the injection means that activates said proteases.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for capturing and reading negatively charged amino acids and/or peptide fragments, the apparatus comprising:
 a cis chamber;   a trans chamber;   a first apparatus comprising the apparatus of  claim 1 ;   a second apparatus comprising the apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second apparatus is arranged substantially orthogonal to the first apparatus, and wherein the second apparatus separates the cis chamber from the trans chamber;   a plurality of reference electrodes arranged among the chambers, wherein one of the reference electrodes is provided in the trans chamber and is positively biased with respect to the cis chamber, and wherein the gap provided by the second apparatus acts to capture negatively charged amino acid and/or peptide residues.   
     
     
         16 - 25 . (canceled)