CAREER: Microtubule Severing Mechanisms

[9984955]我们在细胞和分子水平上对生命的理解正在导致治疗疾病和替代失去的器官功能的新技术的快速发展。这些技术未来的成功或失败取决于对细胞及其分子的新认识，发展科学家和工程师综合通过不同观点和方法获得的知识的能力，以及推进公众对细胞生物学和生物技术的理解。该项目以一种综合的方式解决这些问题，将新的研究和教育方法结合起来。本项目的研究内容将集中在细胞分裂、轴突生长和鞭毛吸收中重要的微管切断的分子机制上。使用最先进的视频显微镜技术，单个微管和单个切断酶的动力学将首次被跟踪。这种行为将与微管切断的基本生物物理机制的计算机模拟模型进行定量比较。此外，将利用光学力对微管进行机械变形，以确定变形对切割的影响。这个项目的教育部分将侧重于提供细胞和分子生物工程的动手和互动学习经验。将为来自代表性不足群体的高级工程本科生开发一个综合研究/教育“未来学院”项目。互动的发展。明尼苏达科学博物馆的“激光引导细菌”实验将把这个研究项目的成果带给公众。视频会议的发展作为一种手段，促进教师、学生和客座专家之间的直接互动，而不考虑地理位置，将改善远程教育。

9984955OddeOur understanding of life at the cellular and molecular level is leading to the rapid development of new technologies for treating disease and replacing lost organ function. The future success or failure of these technologies hinges on gaining a new understanding of cells and their molecules, developing the abilities of scientists and engineers to synthesize knowledge gained through diverse perspectives and approaches, and advancing the general public's understanding of cell biology and biotechnology. This project addresses these issues in an integrated way that incorporates new approaches to research and education. The research component of this project will focus on the molecular mechanisms of microtubule severing, important for cell division, axonal outgrowth, and flagellar resorption. Using state-of-the-art videomicroscopy techniques, the dynamics of individual microtubules and individual severing enzymes will be tracked for the first time. The behavior will be compared quantitatively to computer simulation models of the fundamental biophysical mechanisms underlying microtubule severing. In addition, optical forces will be used to mechanically deform microtubules to determine the effect of deformation on severing. The educational component of this project will focus on providing hands-on and interactive learning experiences in cellular and molecular bioengineering. An integrated research/educational "Future Faculty" program for advanced engineering undergraduates from underrepresented groups will be developed. The development of an interactive. hands-on "Laser Guidance of Bacteria" experiment for the Science Museum of Minnesota will bring the results of this research project to the public. The development of videoconferencing as a means to promote direct interaction between faculty, students, and guest experts without regard to geographical location will improve distance education.