Provided are proteins and peptides suitable for binding
lanthanide ions and / or
actinide ions. Proteins of the present disclosure may contain or be one of the following sequences: DDKAACAX1GIAAVKAX2VEKLAPEAVPQKLKRALKIAEREQGEGX 3FX4X5CLX6ALX7DAKRALPKX8X9 (SEQ ID NO:1) or MMRTRTSLAVPRGFRGSALLADDKAACAX1GIAAVKAX2VEKLA-PEAVPQKLKRALKIAEREQGEGX3FX4X5CLX6ALX7DAKRALPKX8X9 (SEQ ID NO:52), where X1 is D or S; X2 is R or K; X3 is E, Q, or M; X4 is D, N, Q, or K; X5 E, N, Q, D, A, or T; X6 is E, A, or Q; X7 is D or E; X8 is Y, W, or absent; and X9 is G or absent, or a
protein having at least 70% identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or 52. Proteins or peptides of the present disclosure may contain a
metal-binding motif or be REX1X2EX3EX4DEC (SEQ ID NO:53), where X1 is any
amino acid; X2 is any
amino acid, (e.g., G, A, K, R); X3 is any
amino acid, (e.g., G, A, or K); and X4 is F or Y; and the C forms a
disulfide bond with another
cysteine residue elsewhere in the
peptide. Also provided are methods of using any one of the proteins or peptides, methods of making any one of the proteins or peptides, and kits.