Filamentous bacteriophages are viruses infecting only bacteria. In this study, filamentous fd viruses were genetically engineered to display specific gold- (V5) and platinum-binding (p7A) peptides on the head part (P9 minor coat protein). Gold-binding properties of recombinant p9V5, p9P7A, and wild-type fd viruses were investigated by Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and UV-Vis spectroscopy analyses. Displaying only 5 copies of V5 peptides on head part of viruses resulted in site-specific Au-binding. Surprisingly, p9p7A viruses, as well, showed enhanced gold-binding properties with respect to wild-type fd viruses. Filamentous fd viruses are good candidates of genetically programmable biotemplates for mineralization and metallization studies.
