We observe reversible, bias-induced switching of conductance via a blue copper protein azurin mutant, N42C Az, with a nearly 10-fold increase at vertical bar V vertical bar > 0.8 V than at lower bias. No such switching is found for wild-type azurin, WT Az, up to vertical bar 1.2 V vertical bar, beyond which irreversible changes occur. The N42C Az mutant will, when positioned between electrodes in a solid-state Au-protein-Au junction, have an orientation opposite that of WT Az with respect to the electrodes. Current(s) via both proteins are temperature-independent, consistent with quantum mechanical tunneling as dominant transport mechanism. No noticeable difference is resolved between the two proteins in conductance and inelastic electron tunneling spectra at
Protein Binding and Orientation Matter: Bias-Induced Conductance Switching in a Mutated Azurin Junction
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