CAREER: Rational Manipulation of Fungal Cell Wall Composition to Control Hyphal Fragmentation

这项建议的目标是更好地了解真菌细胞壁的组成和结构如何影响细胞的物理性质。这些结果可能导致新的和/或改进的抗生素发酵，并更好地了解真菌/植物的相互作用。将研究一种使用尼杜拉曲霉的模型系统，观察细胞壁组成(甲壳素、β-葡聚糖、蛋白质含量、蛋白质表达模式)和物理性质(抗拉强度、壁厚、菌丝直径)，并将这些性质与组成相关联。一种菌丝碎裂最小的真菌菌株将利用上述关系进行基因工程。该教育计划的核心是利用工程师/生命科学家/行业合作来促进生物工程领域的积极实践学习。

The goal of this proposal is to obtain a better understanding of how fungal cell wall composition and structure affect cellular physical properties. The results could lead to new and/or improved antibiotic fermentations and a better understanding of fungus/plant interactions. A model system using Aspergillus nidulans will be studied observing cell wall compositions (chitin, B-glucan, protein content, protein expression pattern) and physical properties (tensile strength, wall thickness, hyphal diameter) and correlating these properties with composition. A fungal strain with minimal hyphal fragmentation will be genetically engineered using the above relationships. The educational plan centers on the use of an engineer/life-scientist/industry collaboration to promote active, hands-on learning in the bioengineering field.