Responses of the Pheromone-Binding Protein of the Silk Moth on a Graphene Biosensor Match Binding Constants in Solution.

An electronic biosensor for odors was assembled by immobilizing the silk moth pheromone binding protein (BmorPBP1) on a reduced graphene oxide surface of a field-effect transistor. At physiological pH, the sensor detects the pheromones, bombykol and bombykal, with good affinity and specificity. Among the other odorants tested, only eugenol elicited a strong signal, while terpenoids and other odorants (linalool, geraniol, isoamyl acetate, and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine) produced only very weak responses.