A Novel Biomimetic Magnetosensor Based on Magneto‐Optically Involved Conformational Variation of MagR/Cry4 Complex

Abstract

Abstract During billions of years of evolution, some species develop fantastic magneto‐perception, offering a biomimetic route to develop the next generation of magneto‐sensors. Recently, a novel principle was proposed to explain the navigation of pigeons in the presence of geomagnetic fields and sunlight. The key link is thought to lie in the magneto‐optically involved conformational variation of magnetoreceptor protein (MagR)/cryptochrome (Cry4) complex. The MagR/Cry4 complex is fabricated and purified in vitro, creating a magneto‐sensing device by immobilization of this protein on a graphene‐modified electrochemical electrode. By using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, magneto‐sensing with a current detectability of 10 mT is realized with MagR/Cry4 complex. It is proved that this process requires the involvement of both magnetic fields and light, partly confirming in vitro the magneto‐perceptive mechanism of MagR/Cry4 complex. It is also shows that this device can be used to reflect the anisotropic responses of nanomaterials to the external magnetic field. It is believed this protein‐based magneto‐sensing will greatly boost development of bioelectronics and deepen understanding of the phenomena of magneto‐perception for organisms.

Keywords

• bioelectronics
• magneto‐sensing
• MagR proteins
• MagR/Cry4 complex