Chromochord
The Chromochord is the first bioelectronic musical instrument. It functions by using the change in absorbance of the Avena sativa phot1 LOV2 domain (AsLOV2) and converting this into changes in music.[1]
Parts
The Chromochord is composed of four main parts: the AsLOV2 protein or similar photoactivatable protein, the spectrophotometer that measures absorbance of a solution containing the protein, the keys or buttons that allow for user input and a computer or another device that can create sound.
- The AsLOV2 protein domain is ~150–175 amino acids in size. It contains a non-covalently bound flavin-mononucleotide (FMN) chromophore that upon absorption of a photon of blue light forms a covalent bound with the sulfur of a nearby cysteine residue and the N5 atom of the isoalloxaxine ring becomes protonated. This reduction of FMN is known to cause of bleaching of the normal absorbance maximum at 447 nm. This reaction spontaneously reverses on the seconds to hours timescale with absorbance returning at 447 nm upon FMN deprotonation and can be repeated many times. The Chromochord contains blue LEDs that can be used to excite the protein.
- A spectrophotometer is a device that allows the measurement of optical properties of a sample. The spectrophotometer in the Chromochord is interfaced with a computer to allow signal processing.
- The keys and buttons of the Chromochord allow user input to control the sound similar to how a keyboard or piano works. These buttons are interfaced with a computer that can then match the button presses to notes. Each button has a unique sample of protein to allow its pitch to be changed individually.
- The computer in the Chromochord does the signal processing and sound generation. Upon a button press the laptop generates a note based on preprogrammed needs from the user. It then uses absorbances measured from the spectrophotometer to modify the pitch of the note.
How it Works
A user will start off by pressing a button or key that will generate a base note and pitch. If the user wants to change the pitch of the note they can activate a blue LED which will shine on the buttons unique solution and change the absorbance of the solution which will be translated into a change in pitch.[2] Because each solution is unique one can engineer different AsLOV2 variants that have different amino acid sequences and respond to light differently providing a further layer of depth and complexity to the instrument.
History
The Chomrochord was invented by Dr. Josiah Zayner in 2011, a then graduate student at The University of Chicago in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. There have been multiple performances of the Chromochord including in Chicago, IL and Berlin, Germany. The composer Francisco Castillo Trigueros has created music compositions to be played using the Chromochord.[3]
The Chromochord was featured in Scientific American,[1] The Verge[2] and on the University of Chicago website[4] amongst many others.
References
- 1 2 "Biotech's First musical instrument plays proteins like piano keys", Scientific American, Sep 03, 2013, retrieved Sep 7, 2013 Check date values in:
|date=(help) - 1 2 "The world's smallest violin: Scientist uses proteins to create new musical instrument", The Verge: Katie Drummond, Sep 05, 2013, retrieved 7 September 2013 Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "UChicago Arts/Science The Chromochord", University of Chicago, May 01, 2013, retrieved May 6, 2013 Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Scholars Probe Interface Between Arts and Sciences". The University of Chicago. November 18, 2013. Retrieved Nov 20, 2013.