U.S.-Japan Cooperative Research: Fundamental Study of Receptor Ion-Channel Sensors

该奖项将使堪萨斯大学的西奥多库瓦纳教授及其同事能够与北海道大学的梅泽义雄教授在两年的时间内进行合作。他们将尝试开发用于检测生物物质（包括神经毒素）的超灵敏和选择性传感器。这些传感器将基于蛋白质受体的使用，该受体充当膜离子通道的门。特别是，这项研究将集中在谷氨酸结合蛋白，这是在中枢神经系统中最广泛的兴奋性化学递质系统的组成部分，是一个合适的蛋白质为基础的受体的候选人。本研究的目的是加强对谷氨酸结合蛋白的理解，该计划包括GBP受体离子通道的分离和纯化，在各种合成膜中重建这些通道，结构和功能表征，以及确定其遗传特性。这项工作汇集了两国公认的蛋白质合成和分析专家，可能对选择性化学探针的开发产生重要影响。

This award will enable Prof. Theodore Kuwana and colleagues at the University of Kansas to collaborate with Prof. Yoshio Umezawa of Hokkaido University over a period of two years. They will attempt to develop ultrasensitive and selective sensors for the detection of biological substances, including neurotoxins. These sensors will be based on the use of a protein-based receptor, which acts as a gate for a membrane ionchannel. In particular, this research will focus on the glutamate binding protein, which is a constituent in the most widespread excitatory chemical transmitter system in the central nervous system, and is a candidate for a suitable protein-based receptor. The purpose of this research is to enhance the understanding of the glutamate binding protein, and the program includes the isolation and purification of GBP receptor ion channels, reconstruction of these channels in various synthetic membranes, structural and functional characterization, and determination of their genetic properties. The work brings together acknowledged experts on protein synthesis and analysis from the two countries, and could have important implications in the development of selective chemical probes.