CAREER: Switched-angle Spinning NMR for Investigation of Membrane Proteins

职业：用于研究膜蛋白的转角旋转核磁共振

• 批准号: 0847375
• 负责人: Rachel Martin
• 金额: $ 63.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Irvine
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-02-01 至 2015-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0847375&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Switched; angle; Spinning; NMR

In this award, Dr. Martin from the University of California at Irvine, will develop a new switched-angle NMR probe and methodology for studying the structure of membrane proteins in their native environment. The PI picked matrilysin as the initial target membrane protein, which cleaves other proteins from the cell surface. The educational plan comprises several components, including efforts in establishing awareness of global issues for international students, and outreach to high school students in grades 9-12 in the framework of UCI's SPIRIT program. The goals are to increase interest in science by hosting students in Dr. Martin's lab, and have them actively engage in experimental work. Membrane proteins are substances that adhere to the outside of a cell. They have many different functions such as transport of chemicals into and out of the cell or in helping the cell communicate with other systems in the body. Due to their multi-functionality, these proteins are involved in many diseases. Matrilysin, for example, the protein to be studied by Dr. Martin at University of California, Irvine, exacerbates cancer by cleaving proteins from the tumor cell surface, thus preventing the immune system to recognize these cells as cancerous. In order to understand the function of membrane proteins and find cures for diseases, the structure of the protein in its native environment, that is, attached to a cell surface, must be known. Dr. Martin will develop sophisticated experimental tools that will help in elucidating such structures. Dr. Martin's work comprises elements of chemistry, biology, and physics. She plans to engage students from the high school to the postdoctoral level in her work, and train them in thinking and problem solving across disciplinary boundaries. Dr. Martin is committed to training a diverse and international workforce in issues ranging from scientific literacy to science policy through participation in existing programs at UC Irvine.

在该奖项中，来自加州大学欧文分校的 Martin 博士将开发一种新的转换角度 NMR 探针和方法，用于研究天然环境中膜蛋白的结构。 PI 选择基质溶解素作为最初的目标膜蛋白，它可以从细胞表面裂解其他蛋白质。该教育计划由多个组成部分组成，包括努力提高国际学生对全球问题的认识，以及在 UCI 的 SPIRIT 计划框架内向 9 至 12 年级的高中生进行宣传。目标是通过接待学生到马丁博士的实验室来提高对科学的兴趣，并让他们积极参与实验工作。膜蛋白是粘附在细胞外部的物质。它们具有许多不同的功能，例如将化学物质运输进出细胞或帮助细胞与体内其他系统进行通信。由于其多功能性，这些蛋白质与许多疾病有关。例如，加州大学欧文分校的马丁博士正在研究的基质溶解素（Matrilysin），通过从肿瘤细胞表面裂解蛋白质，从而阻止免疫系统将这些细胞识别为癌性细胞，从而加剧癌症。 为了了解膜蛋白的功能并找到治疗疾病的方法，必须了解该蛋白质在其天然环境（即附着在细胞表面）中的结构。马丁博士将开发复杂的实验工具来帮助阐明此类结构。马丁博士的工作涉及化学、生物学和物理学的各个方面。她计划让从高中到博士后级别的学生参与她的工作，并训练他们跨学科界限的思维和解决问题的能力。马丁博士致力于通过参与加州大学欧文分校的现有项目，在从科学素养到科学政策等问题上培训多元化的国际劳动力。