Cephalopod Hemocyanins: Structure and Function

该委员会建议继续研究头足类血蓝蛋白的结构、进化和功能，有限地扩展章鱼血蓝蛋白的近期工作，以及涉及鹦鹉螺血蓝蛋白和鱿鱼血蓝蛋白的重大新项目。最初，对章鱼血蓝蛋白的某些正在进行的研究将完成。其中包括利用裂解的亚基作为探索功能行为的工具的实验。我们将会详细分析鹦鹉螺和低聚血蓝蛋白的亚基结构，以提供PI为章鱼开发的那种完整的结构图。将确定每种情况下涉及的多肽链的种类和每条链中的功能单元的数量。将评估多种链类型在装配中的作用。将进行有限的多肽测序，以使Lopolo和Nautilus单位与章鱼的单位和腹足类血蓝蛋白的单位一致。如果时间和资金允许，建议重新检查低聚血蓝蛋白的氧结合功能和变构，因为早期的研究表明，低聚血蓝蛋白存在显著的氧键解离过程。这一缓慢的过程应该可以对血蓝蛋白解离反应进行第一次动力学研究。

The PI proposes to continue studies of the structure, evolution, and function of cephalopod hemocyanins with limited extension of recent work on Octopus hemocyanin and major new projects involving the hemocyanins of Nautilus and of the squid Loligo. Initially, certain ongoing studies of Octopus hemocyanin will be brought to completion. These include experiments utilizing cleaved subunits as tools in exploration of functional behavior. A detailed analysis of the subunit structure of the Nautilus and Loligo hemocyanins will be undertaken, to provide the kind of complete structural picture the PI has developed for Octopus. The number of kinds of polypeptide chains involved in each case, and the number of functional units in each chain will be determined. The roles of multiple chain types in assembly will be assessed. Limited peptide sequencing will be carried out in order to allow alignment of the Loligo and Nautilus units with those of Octopus and with those in gastropod hemocyanins. If time and funds permit, a re-examination of the oxygen-binding function and allostery of Loligo hemocyanin is proposed, since early studies indicated a remarkable oxygen-linked dissociation process. This slow process should allow the first kinetic studies on a hemocyanin dissociation reaction.