JPS6319861A - Resistance element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the title resistance element having an arbitrary resistance value by changing a distance and an angle by a method wherein the first and the second electron transferring substance molecules are aparted in the prescribed distance, or an electron transferring complex having the prescribed angle against an electron transferring path is constituted, and it is arranged between a pair of electrodes. CONSTITUTION:An electron transferring complex 3 is constituted by arranging cytochrome c1 and flavodoxin 2 leaving the prescribed distance, or by arranging them at the prescribed angle, and electrodes 4a and 4b are provided adjoining the side face intersecting with the electron transferring paths 3a and 3b to be formed on the complex 3. As a result, when the prescribed voltage is applied between the two electrodes 4a and 4b, the quantity of the electrons running on the electron transferring path of the first and the second electron transferring protein varies by the prescribed distance and the angle, and said element functions as the resistance element having the resistance value in proportion to the prescribed distance and the angle.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a resistance element in the field of integrated circuits, and by using biomaterials as the constituent material of the element, the size of the element can be reduced to ultra-fine size at the level of biomolecules. It is designed to be large enough to allow visitors to get close to it (from several tens to hundreds of people).

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a rectifying element used in an integrated circuit, there has been an MO5 structure shown in FIG.

In the figure, 11 is a p-type silicon substrate, 12 is an n-shade region, 13 is a p-shade region, 14 is an n-shade region, 15 is a SiO□ film, 16.17 is an electrode, and these two electrodes 16.1
p-n junction between 7 (p shadow area 13 - n shadow area 14 junction)
is formed, thereby realizing rectifying characteristics.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Because the conventional MO3 structure rectifier is configured as described above, it can be microfabricated, and currently there are 256 types of LSIs using rectifiers with the above structure or transistor elements with a similar structure. LSI has been put into practical use.

Incidentally, in order to increase the memory capacity and operation speed of integrated circuits, it is essential to miniaturize the elements themselves, but Si
In devices using ultra-fine patterns of about 0.2 μm, the mean free path of electrons becomes almost equal to the device size, which has the limitation that independence of the devices cannot be maintained.

In this way, silicon technology, which continues to develop day by day, is expected to eventually hit a wall in terms of miniaturization, and there is an electronic circuit element based on a new principle that can break the 0.2 μm barrier. something is wanted.

Under these circumstances, the present inventors used electron transfer proteins that exist in living organisms and transfer electrons through redox reactions, and utilized the difference in redox (oxidation-reduction) potential between different types of electron transfer proteins. , p using n-type semiconductor
We have developed a rectifier element that exhibits rectifying characteristics similar to those of a -n junction transistor, and a transistor element that exhibits transistor characteristics similar to a pnp junction transistor. and,
This allows the device size to be ultra-fine at the level of biomolecules, making it possible to achieve higher density and faster circuits.

In order to construct a bioelectrical element circuit using such elements, it has become necessary to develop elements such as resistors and capacitors that are compatible with these elements.

The present invention was made in view of this situation, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a resistance element for an ultrafine bioelectric element circuit using biomaterials.

[Means for solving problems]

The resistance element according to the present invention is made of a biological material or a pseudo-biological material, which is capable of transmitting electrons in a certain direction, and has a first resistance element having a different redox potential. The second electron transfer substance molecules are arranged at a predetermined distance so as to have a desired resistance value and cause electron transfer in one direction, or so that each electron transfer path forms a predetermined angle, and ．． It is constructed by providing electrodes connected to respective sides of an electron transfer complex made of molecules of a second electron transfer material that intersect with the electron transfer path.

[Effect]

In this invention, 1. forming an electron transport complex by arranging the second electron transport material molecules apart by a predetermined distance or such that their electron transport paths form a predetermined angle;
Since the composite was placed between a pair of electrodes to form a resistive element, by changing the distance and angle mentioned above, it is possible to obtain an ultrafine resistive element for a bioelectric device circuit having any resistance value. .

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, before explaining the resistance element of the present invention, the rectifying element and the switching element as the above-mentioned bioelectrical element will be explained.

That is, the rectifying element developed by the present inventors is shown in Fig. 4fa).
As shown in Figure 2, it is constructed by adhesively bonding two types of electron transport proteins having different redox (oxidation-reduction) potentials, ie, for example, cytochrome C molecule 1 and flavodoxin molecule 2. In this device, the redox potentials of cytochrome c1 and flavodoxin 2 are different as shown in Figure 4(b), so electrons do not move from the negative redox potential level to the positive level as shown by the solid arrow in the figure. It exhibits a rectifying characteristic in which it flows easily, but it is difficult to flow in the opposite direction (in the direction of the dashed arrow in the figure), and as a result, it has rectifying characteristics similar to that of a p-n junction diode, which is a junction between an n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor. The rectifying element shown is obtained.

In addition, in the figure, 4a and 4b are electrodes for applying voltage V to this element when operating this element as a rectifying element.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the switch element developed by the present inventors is a transistor made of a p-n-p junction semiconductor using two or more types of three electron transfer proteins 2a, l, and 2b with different redox potentials. A transistor element exhibiting characteristics similar to those of the element is constructed. In addition, in FIG. 5, 4a.

4b and 4c are electrodes.

Further, the actual configuration of the rectifying element is as shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 7, 76 is a substrate with insulating properties;
7 is a metal electrode such as Ag, Au, At, etc., and a plurality of strips are formed in parallel on the substrate 76.

78 is a LB (Langmuir-Bl) on the substrate 76.
79 is a second electron transfer protein membrane made of flavodoxin prepared by the same <LB method, etc.; Cumulatively adhesively bonded. Reference numeral 8o denotes a plurality of parallel electrodes formed perpendicularly to the plurality of parallel electrodes 77, and is formed on the 2'T4 child transfer protein membrane 79.

Further, the actual configuration of the above switch element is as shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 8, 86 is a substrate having insulating properties;
7 is a metal electrode such as Ag, Au, A1, etc., and a plurality of strips are formed in parallel on the substrate 86.

Reference numeral 88 denotes a first electron transfer protein film made of flavodoxin, which is formed on the substrate 86 by the LB method or the like, and is formed on the plurality of electrodes 87 mentioned above. 9° is a plurality of parallel electrodes formed perpendicularly to the plurality of parallel electrodes 87,
It is formed on the first electron transfer protein membrane 88. 8
Reference numeral 9 denotes a second electron transfer protein film made of cytochrome C prepared by the same <LB method, etc., which is cumulatively adhesively bonded to the first electron transfer protein film 88 and bonded to the electron Fi 90. Reference numeral 91 denotes a third electron transfer protein film made of flavodoxin prepared by the same <LB method or the like, which is cumulatively adhesively bonded to the second electron transfer protein film 89. A plurality of parallel electrodes 92 are formed perpendicularly to the plurality of parallel electrodes 9°, and are formed on the third electron transfer protein membrane 91.

FIGS. 1(a) to (dl) show resistance elements according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, and these are arranged so that the cytochrome c1 and flavodoxin 2 used in the rectifying element are separated by a predetermined distance or by a predetermined distance. Electron transfer proteins 3 are arranged so as to form an angle of
A, 4b are provided. That is, for example, FIG. 1(a) shows a case in which the main bodies 1.2 of both protein molecules are arranged in close contact with each other, FIG. Fig. 1(c) shows the two halves of the main body joined together so that their electron transfer paths 3a and 3b form a constant angle, and Fig. 1 (Fdl) shows the two halves of the main body joined together with their electron transfer paths 3a and 3b at a fixed angle. This is what I did.

In a resistance element having such a configuration, both electrodes 4a, 4b
When a predetermined voltage (■) is applied between the first and second electron transfer proteins, the amount of electrons flowing through the electron transfer path of the first and second electron transfer proteins changes depending on the predetermined distance and angle.
It functions as a resistance element that has a resistance value depending on the angle.

Here, the resistance value of each element in Fig. 1 is (a+ < (C)≠
(d) < (It is thought that the value increases in the order of bl. Therefore, when constructing a bioelectrical element circuit using a rectifying element, a switching element, etc. using an electron transfer protein in this way, the resistance element is Similarly, it can be obtained using electron transfer proteins, and the element size is still ultra-fine at the level of biomolecules, making it possible to achieve high density and high speed.Also, the material of the resistor element and the material f4 of the switch element, etc. Since they are the same protein, the affinity between the elements is also good.

Also, its resistance value is also the same as the above-mentioned predetermined distance.

Any value can be obtained by changing the angle.

Note that this element is intended to function as a resistance element, so when using this element in a bioelectric element circuit, the applied voltage range should be set to a range that provides linear characteristics as ■-I characteristics. Of course.

Next, an example of a method for changing the orientation of both electron transfer proteins in order to construct an electron transfer complex as in the first to fourth embodiments will be described.

Proteins are polymers of amino acids, each of which is peptide bonded to each other to form a polypeptide chain having amino acid residues. This method involves changing the steric orientation of either or both electron transfer proteins by chemically modifying amino acid residues at specific sites.

Figure 2 (8) is a protein molecule 1a in which the amino group (NH2) of the harisine residue is not chemically modified at all; C) shows a fully chemically modified molecule 1c. In the figure, 10 is a polypeptide chain constituting the cytochrome C molecule, and N Hz is the amino group of a lysine residue.

When benzaldehyde acts on the 8-amino group, the acid amine group is chemically modified to become -N=CHR]. Therefore, by adjusting the amount of benzaldehyde to act, for example, Fig. 2 (bl and (c)) The number of amino groups to be modified can be adjusted as shown in Figure 2. When cytochrome C molecules with different degrees of amino group modification are bound to a flavodoxin molecule, they will be bound in different steric orientations. , it is possible to obtain an electron transport complex in which the bond positions of both molecules are different.

Figure 3 shows the V of the electron transfer complex formed by the above method.
In the figure, A, B, and C are respectively shown in Figure 2 (
a), (bl, (C) cytochrome C molecule 1a,
V-1 of the electron transport complex constructed using lb and lc
It can be seen that the higher the degree of modification, the smaller the slope and the higher the resistance value.

In the above example, the amino group of the lysine residue was modified with benzaldehyde to change the steric orientation of the electron transfer protein molecule, but this cannot be done even if other residues are modified with other organic molecules. Alternatively, the protein molecule may be modified by protein engineering techniques.

Furthermore, in the above example, the molecules constituting the electron transfer complex were naturally occurring electron transfer proteins such as cytochrome C and flavodoxin, but of course, other natural electron transfer proteins such as non-heme-iron - Sulfur protein 5 may be cytochrome a, plastocyanin, or thioredoxin, and may also be a pseudo-I biomaterial, that is, a naturally occurring electron transport protein that retains the structure of the active center and modifies other parts. substances, or amino acids or amino acid derivatives in which H is replaced with F or CH, or C is replaced with Si, bound to naturally occurring electron transfer proteins, or mimicking the function of naturally occurring electron transfer proteins. Organic molecules or organometallic complex molecules synthesized to do so, such as those formed by surrounding a redox substance with a polymer, or furthermore, those formed by chemically bonding a polymer, a substance with π electrons, and a substance to be redoxed. etc.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the first. The second electron transfer substance molecules were arranged at a predetermined distance or at a predetermined angle to constitute an electron transfer complex, and this was arranged between a pair of electrodes to constitute a resistor. It is possible to obtain ultrafine resistance elements at the molecular level, and it is possible to achieve higher density and higher speed bioelectric device circuits.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 (at, (b), (c), and (d) are schematic diagrams M showing resistance elements according to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments of the present invention; C1 is a diagram for explaining the method of changing the three-dimensional orientation of the electron transfer protein of this invention, and FIG. 3 shows the current of a resistance element constructed using the electron transfer protein shown in FIGS. - A diagram showing the voltage characteristics, FIG. 4(a) is a schematic diagram showing the rectifying element developed by the present inventors, FIG. 4(b) is its redox potential state diagram, and FIG. A schematic diagram showing the developed switch element, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional MO5 configuration rectifying element, and FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a device incorporating the rectifying element developed by the present inventors. , No. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a device incorporating the switch element developed by the present inventors. In the figure, 1 is a cytochrome C molecule, 2 is a flavodoxin molecule, 3 is an electron transport complex, 3a and 3b are electron transfer paths, and 4a, 4b, and 4c are herons. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) first and second electron transfer substance molecules that are biomaterials or pseudo-biomaterials that can transfer electrons in a certain direction and have different redox potentials are separated by a predetermined distance;
Alternatively, an electron transfer complex is formed by arranging and bonding each electron transfer path so as to form a predetermined angle, and a side surface of the electron transfer complex consisting of the first and second electron transfer substance molecules intersects with the electron transfer path. and electrodes connected to the resistor elements. (2) The above-mentioned predetermined distance and predetermined angle are the above-mentioned first and second
2. The resistance element according to claim 1, wherein the resistance element is set by chemically modifying an amino acid residue present in one or both of the electron carrier molecules with benzaldehyde. (3) The above electron transfer substance is an electron transfer protein which is a naturally occurring biomaterial, and includes non-heme iron/sulfur protein, cytochrome c protein, cytochrome b protein,
cytochrome a, flavodoxin, plastocyanin,
or thioredoxin, the resistance element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resistance element is thioredoxin. (4) Claim 1, characterized in that the electron transfer substance is a pseudo-biological material formed by binding an amino acid or an amino acid derivative to a naturally occurring electron transfer protein.
The resistance element according to item 1 or 2. (5) The resistance element according to claim 4, wherein the amino acid derivative is an amino acid in which H is replaced with F or CH_3, or C is replaced with Si. (6) Claim 1, wherein the electron transfer substance is an organic molecule or an organometallic complex molecule that is a pseudo-biological material synthesized to imitate the function of a naturally occurring electron transfer protein. The resistance element according to item 1 or 2. (7) The resistance element according to claim 6, wherein the organic molecule or organometallic complex molecule is formed by surrounding a redox substance with a polymer. (8) The organic molecule or organometallic complex molecule is formed by chemically bonding a polymer, a substance having π electrons, and a substance that can be redoxed. Resistance element described in section.