Proteotronics: Electronic Devices Based on Proteins

The convergent interests of different scientific disciplines, from biochemistry to electronics, toward the investigation of protein electrical properties, has promoted the development of a novel bailiwick, the so called proteotronics. The main aim of proteotronics is to propose and achieve innovative electronic devices, based on the selective action of specific proteins. This paper gives a sketch of the fields of applications of proteotronics, by using as significant example the detection of a specific odorant molecule carried out by an olfactory receptor. The experiment is briefly reviewed and its theoretical interpretation given. Further experiments are envisioned and expected results discussed in the perspective of an experimental validation