The Role of a-Lactalbumin in Lactose Biosynthesis

乳糖只有在哺乳期的乳腺中才能高水平合成。乳糖合成酶由两个亚基组成，一个是被称为半乳糖基转移酶的糖基转移酶，另一个是修饰蛋白a-乳清蛋白。使用荧光、电子自旋共振和核磁共振技术，柏林博士将对溶液中a-乳清蛋白分子上的特定阳离子结合和其他区域进行表征、指定和绘制地图。动力学实验也将被用来测试改良的钙结合环衍生物在乳糖生物合成中的效果。

Lactose is synthesized in high levels only in the lactating mammary gland. The enzyme complex "lactose synthase" is composed of two subunits, a glycosyl transferase called galactosyl transferase and a modifier protein, a-lactalbumin. Using the techniques of fluorescence, ESR and NMR, Dr. Berliner will characterize, assign and map specific cation binding and other regions on the a-lactalbumin molecule in solution. Kinetic experiments will also be employed to test the efficacy of modified calcium binding loop derivatives in lactose biosynthesis.