X-ray Generator and Image Plates for a Multi-User Crystallography Facility

[9970207]摘要约翰霍普金斯大学的研究实验室申请资助建立一个多用户x射线晶体学设备。该设施将建立在约翰霍普金斯大学霍姆伍德校区，目前那里没有这样的设施。该设备将使研究人员能够从大分子晶体中收集x射线衍射数据。根据这些数据，可以确定蛋白质、核酸、蛋白质复合物或蛋白质与核酸的三维结构。对结构的分析将提供对分子功能的洞察，这些结构信息将补充使用各种其他技术收集的数据。研究小组正在研究的课题包括：某些蛋白质的结合如何导致神经细胞和神经系统的发育。如何鉴定可以防止镰状细胞血红蛋白凝胶化的化合物，这可能导致镰状细胞性贫血的治疗。参与细菌结合（一种DNA转移机制）的蛋白质如何结合它们的活动在细菌之间转移基因。蛋白质如何识别和结合DNA，从而激活或抑制基因表达。蛋白质如何识别和结合RNA。蛋白质是如何协同作用使细菌从环境中吸收糖分的。蛋白质是如何在蛋白质核心被大量插入或带电的情况下保持稳定的。

9970207:AbstractTen research laboratories at The Johns Hopkins University request funding to establish a multi-user x-ray crystallography facility. The facility will be established on the Homewood campus of the Johns Hopkins University, where there are currently no such facilities. The equipment will enable the researchers to collect x-ray diffraction data from macromolecular crystals. From this data, three-dimensional structures of proteins, nucleic acids, and complexes of proteins or of protein and nucleic acid can be determined. Analysis of the structures will provide insight into the functions of the molecules, and this structural information will complement data collected using a variety of other techniques. Among the topics beingstudied by the research groups include: How the binding of certain proteins leads to development of neural cells and the nervous system. How to identify compounds that can prevent gelation of sickle cellhemoglobulin, which may lead to a treatment for sickle cell anemia. How proteins involved in bacterial conjugation, a DNA transfer mechanism, combine their activities to transfer genes between bacteria . How proteins can recognize and bind DNA and thereby activate or repress gene expression. How proteins can recognize and bind RNA. How proteins work together to allow bacteria to take up sugars from their environment. How proteins can remain stable despite large modifications such as large insertions or charges within the protein core.