US 12,392,782 B2
Characterization of protein binding to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Scott M. Belcher, Raleigh, NC (US); and Thomas W. Jackson, Raleigh, NC (US)
Assigned to North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed by North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/704,825.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/166,606, filed on Mar. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0308064 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 33/68 (2006.01); G01N 33/58 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/68 (2013.01) [G01N 33/582 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
(a) providing a first composition comprising a polyfluoroalkyl substance, an environment-sensitive fluorophore, a protein, and an aqueous buffer solution, and determining a melting temperature (Tm) for the protein in the first composition, wherein the polyfluoroalkyl substance has a formula:
PFA-X
wherein PFA is a perfluoroalkyl group, a perfluoroheteroalkyl group, a polyfluoroalkyl group, or a polyfluoroheteroalkyl group, and X is selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —SO3H, —OH, —SO2NH2, —OC(O)CH═CH2, —OC(O)C(CH3)=CH2, and —CF3;
(b) providing a second composition comprising the environment-sensitive fluorophore, the protein, and the aqueous buffer solution, and determining a melting temperature (Tm) for the protein in the second composition; and
(c) calculating the difference between the Tm of the protein in the first composition and the Tm of the protein in the second composition (ΔTm).