U.S.-Netherlands Cooperative Research: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Visual Transduction Mechanism (Biophysics)

该奖项支持一个为期30个月的合作研究项目， Kenneth J. Rothschild博士之间的生物物理学，细胞 波士顿大学生物物理学项目和威廉·J·德·格里普博士， 荷兰奈梅亨大学生物化学系。 科学家和他们研究小组的成员正在合作 在一项研究中， 在视觉传导过程中起关键作用。 要解决的方面包括（1）如何异构化视网膜铅 瞬时信号在视紫红质中的表达，（2）详细的 在不同步骤中的视网膜发色团的构型 漂白顺序，（3）感光膜的作用 磷脂在视觉过程中的作用;（4）视紫红质的作用 α-螺旋在传递转导信号从 发色团到瞬时信号位点。 傅里叶变换红外 （FTIR）差谱将被用于研究光诱导的 视紫红质和光感受器的构象变化 膜的 一些研究将涉及修改后的视紫红质样品 是在德·格里普博士的实验室里生产的 其中包括样品， 同位素标记的发色团，蛋白水解和化学 修饰的视紫红质和重组成不同脂质的视紫红质。 这里要进行的实验旨在了解 更好的基本过程发生时，光照射 眼睛的视网膜。 结合先进的生物物理和 生物化学技术将被应用于检测微妙的结构 视网膜中的视紫红质分子发生变化， 光的吸收。 这些变化最终导致了神经系统的 我们将兴奋解释为视觉，但确切的机制尚不清楚。 明白 Rothschild博士是应用FTIR光谱的领导者 生物物理系统的研究。 德·格里普博士是 视紫红质生物化学领域，他将准备许多 在这个项目中研究的样本。 两人合作， 科学家和他们各自研究小组的成员希望， 大大增加了我们对光化学的理解， 视野

This award supports a 30-month cooperative research project in biophysics between Dr. Kenneth J. Rothschild, Director, Cellular Biophysics Program, Boston University, and Dr. Willem J. de Grip, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. The scientists and members of their research groups are collaborating in a study of the detailed molecular mechanism by which rhodopsin functions as a key component in the visual transduction process. Aspects to be addressed include (1) how isomerization of retinal leads to transient signal expression in rhodopsin, (2) the detailed configuration of the retinal chromophore at different steps in the bleaching sequence, (3) the role of photoreceptor membrane phospholipids in the visual process, and (4) the role of rhodopsin alpha-helices in transmitting the transductory signal from the chromophore to the transient signal sites. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectroscopy will be used to study the light-induced conformational changes occurring in rhodopsin and photoreceptor membrane. Some of the studies will involve modified rhodopsin samples produced in Dr. De Grip's laboratory. These include samples with isotopically labeled chromophore, proteolytically and chemically modified rhodopsin, and rhodopsin reconstituted into different lipids. The experiments to be carried out here are aimed at understanding better the fundamental processes that take place when light strikes the retina of the eye. A combination of advanced biophysical and biochemical techniques will be applied to detect the subtle structural changes that occur in rhodopsin molecules in the retina in response to absorption of light. These changes ultimately give rise to the neural excitation we interpret as vision, but the exact mechanism is not yet understood. Dr. Rothschild is a leader in applying FTIR spectroscopy to the study of biophysical systems. Dr. De Grip is an expert in the field of rhodopsin biochemistry, and he will prepare many of the samples to be studied in this project. Working together, the two scientists and members of their respective research groups hope to increase significantly our understanding of the photochemistry of vision.