Experimental and Modeling Study of the Optical Properties, Heat and Cold Tolerance, and UV-Resistance of the Eye Lens Crystallins

眼晶状体蛋白的光学特性、耐热性、耐寒性和抗紫外线性的实验和模型研究

• 批准号: 1410415
• 负责人: Rachel Martin
• 金额: $ 45万
• 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: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-08-15 至 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1410415&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Experimental; Modeling; Study; Optical; Properties

Nontechnical: This award by the Biomaterials Program in the Division of Materials Research to University of California Irvine is for developing a scientific understanding of how nature produces transparent, durable biomaterials, as exemplified by the proteins making up the eye lens. Although the molecular details of these proteins vary among different organisms, they are functionally similar in their high stability and resistance to temperature extremes and UV-light damage. Understanding the structural factors diverse lens proteins have in common will help guide the design of future temperature and UV-resistant biomimetic materials. The educational plan includes training of students at the Ph.D. and undergraduate levels. These students will be trained not only in the specific skills needed to complete the research, but also in thinking and problem-solving across disciplinary boundaries. Another important component is outreach to middle school and high school students. The goal of the outreach program is to increase interest in science as a career among middle school students and includes a variety of activities and visits to the PI's labs. Technical: This project seeks to understand the molecular basis of protein stability, in particular resistance to extreme temperatures and UV light exposure. Studies of extremely stable structural proteins that are not homologous but play the same functional role will provide insight into sequence determinants of stability without interference from effects that are conserved due to enzymatic activity in thermostable enzymes. The particular proteins chosen for this effort are eye lens crystallins from three organisms adapted to extreme environments. The box jellyfish (Tripedalia cystophora) J2-crystallin has a high thermal stability, while the gamma-S1- and gamma-S2-crystallins from the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) help confer unusual cold tolerance on the eye lens of this organism. The iota-crystallin of the diurnal gecko Lygodactylus picturatus, has an unusual UV protection mechanism involving binding of a retinol derivative. NMR and optical spectroscopic studies coupled with molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations will elucidate the important structural factors and intermolecular interactions that confer high stability on these proteins, guiding the future design of biomimetic materials. The educational plan includes training of students at the Ph.D. and undergraduate levels, who will be exposed to a broad range of experimental and computational techniques, as well as the continuation of a successful outreach program aimed at middle school students.

非技术性：生物材料计划在加利福尼亚大学欧文大学材料研究部颁发的奖项是为了对大自然如何产生透明，耐用的生物材料的科学理解，这是由构成眼镜镜头的蛋白质的例子。尽管这些蛋白质的分子细节在不同生物体之间有所不同，但它们的高稳定性和对温度极端和紫外线损伤的能力在功能上相似。了解各种晶状体蛋白具有共同点的结构因素将有助于指导未来温度和抗紫外线抗仿生材料的设计。教育计划包括博士学位的学生培训。和本科级别。这些学生将不仅接受完成研究所需的特定技能，而且还将接受跨学科界限的思维和问题解决方面的培训。另一个重要的组成部分是向中学和高中生推广。外展计划的目的是增加对科学的兴趣，作为中学生的职业，包括各种活动和参观Pi的实验室。技术：该项目旨在了解蛋白质稳定性的分子基础，特别是对极端温度和紫外线暴露的抗性。对非同源但发挥相同功能作用的极其稳定的结构蛋白的研究将洞悉稳定性的序列决定因素，而不会干扰因热稳定酶中酶促活性而保守的效果。为此而选择的特定蛋白质是来自适合极端环境的三种生物的眼镜结晶蛋白。 盒子水母（Tripedalia cystophora）J2-晶状蛋白具有很高的热稳定性，而来自南极牙鱼（Dissostichus Mawsoni）的γ-S1-和Gamma-S2-晶状蛋白（dissostichus Mawsoni）有助于赋予这种生物镜的异常冷耐受性。 Diurnal Gecko lygodactylus picturatus的Iota-晶状蛋白具有不寻常的紫外线保护机制，涉及视黄醇衍生物的结合。 NMR和光谱研究与分子动力学和Monte Carlo模拟相连，将阐明重要的结构因子和分子间相互作用，这些因素和分子间相互作用赋予这些蛋白质高稳定性，从而指导仿生材料的未来设计。教育计划包括博士学位的学生培训。和本科生将接触到广泛的实验和计算技术，以及针对中学生的成功推广计划的延续。