Japan Long-Term Visit: Detection and Properties of Transbilayer Ca 2+ -Induced Phase

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This award will enable Prof. Gerald W. Feigenson of Cornell University to collaborate with Prof. Kazuhiko Kinoshita at Keio University in Yokohama, Japan for a period of one year. They will continue investigations of membrane properties that are influenced by doubly- ionized calcium, and in particular the role of doubly ionized calcium in bridging biomembranes prior to fusion. Experiments will be performed on sea urchin eggs, which are readily available and easily stimulated to produce the processes to be studied. Low-light fluorescence microscopy will be used to measure the time dependence of the formation and breakdown of the calcium-ion-induced gel phase at membrane contact regions. The purpose of this research is to clarify the role of the calcium ion in cell movement, cell division, metabolism, and other cell- interaction processes. While it is known that changes in cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration can greatly affect these phenomena, the mechanisms of the effects are unknown. This work has major impli- cations for the understanding of organic chemical reaction dynamics. Dr. Kinoshita's expertise and the equipment at his disposal will be assets to Dr. Feigensn's proposed collaboration.