Acquisition of an Analytical Ultracentrifuge for Use in Biochemistry, Structural Biology and Polymer Science

在Raleigh博士的指导下，纽约州立大学石溪分校获得了一笔资助，用于购买一台分析型超离心机。分析式超离心机是在50多年前发明的，它的发明获得了诺贝尔奖。从那时起，它就从一种定制的专门仪器发展成为研究基础生物化学和化学的基本日常工具。分析性超离心是研究溶液中伴生大分子性质的首选方法。它适用于生物和非生物系统，现在是生物化学、结构生物学和聚合物科学的重要研究工具。这项技术的应用范围是巨大的，并且正在迅速增加。收购一台分析性超离心机将补充纽约州立大学石溪分校正在进行的高分子科学、结构生物学和生物化学方面的重大举措。代表纽约州立大学石溪分校五个院系的10名研究人员将进行基础研究项目。他们的研究兴趣从新材料的开发，到生物学，聚合化学，酶机制，蛋白质动力学和折叠，以及病毒组装。他们共同管理着90多名研究人员。丘教授将使用该仪器研究由改性富勒烯形成的新型囊泡结构和表面活性剂。这些新材料有一系列潜在的应用，包括递送剂。kisker教授将在她的DNA修复研究中使用超离心，而de Los Santos教授将在他的受损DNA研究中使用该仪器。DNA修复对于维持正确的遗传信息至关重要。突变是遗传疾病和癌症的主要原因，也可能与衰老有关。伦敦教授和史密斯教授将研究膜蛋白结构和折叠的基本问题，超离心机将在他们的工作中发挥重要作用。据估计，所有蛋白质中有30%是膜蛋白，但人们对膜蛋白的结构和折叠知之甚少，尽管它们在许多重要的生物过程中起着核心作用。罗利教授将在他对蛋白质折叠过程的研究中使用这台仪器。蛋白质折叠问题是指一个最初未折叠的蛋白质实现其最终功能结构的机制。人们早就知道，氨基酸的线性序列决定了蛋白质的最终折叠结构，但控制这一关键组装过程的规则仍然不为人所知。桑普森教授将使用该仪器研究重要的酶胆固醇氧化酶，这种酶被用作胆固醇传感器。Sampson教授和Tonge教授将使用该仪器进行酶功能的基础研究，而Scarlata教授的实验室将使用该仪器进行病毒组装的研究。Schindelin教授将在他的研究中使用超离心机，研究与关键钼辅助因子的生物合成有关的蛋白质。利用分析式离心分离机研究生物学、生物化学和高分子化学的基本问题的研究人员组成的联盟。许多生物学上重要的分子以及许多人制造的大分子与密切相关的伙伴协同工作。了解这些相互作用的详细性质是理解这些复杂系统的关键。这些研究需要一台分析性超离心机。来自纽约州立大学石溪分校工作的例子包括对受损遗传物质修复的关键蛋白质的研究，病毒的组装，由C60（“巴基球”衍生物）制成的新型新材料的行为，以及蛋白质获得其生物活性状态的基本过程的研究。该仪器还将极大地增强纽约州立大学石溪分校研究生培训的基础设施，并将使附近布鲁克海文国家实验室的研究人员受益

A grant has been awarded to the State University of NewYork at Stony Brook under the direction of Dr. Raleigh for the acquisition of an analytical ultracentrifuge.The analytical ultracentrifuge was first developed more than 50 years agoand its invention lead to a Nobel Prize. Since that time it has evolvedfrom a custom made piece of specialized apparatus to an essential everydaytool for the investigation of basic biochemistry and chemistry. Analyticalultracentrifugation is the method of choice for studying the properties oflarge molecules that associate in solution. It is applicable to biologicaland non-biological systems and it is now an important research tool inbiochemistry, structural biology and polymer science. The ranges ofapplications of this technique are immense and are rapidly increasing.Acquisition of an analytical ultracentrifuge will complement major ongoinginitiatives in polymer science and in structural biology and biochemistryat SUNY Stony Brook. Ten investigators representing five academic departments at SUNY StonyBrook will conduct basic research projects. Their research interests spanthe range from the development of new materials, to biology, polymerchemistry, enzyme mechanisms, protein dynamics and folding, and viralassembly. Together they supervise more than 90 researchers. Professor Chuwill use the instrument in his investigations of novel vesicle structuresand surfactants formed by modified fullerenes. These new materials have arange of potential applications including delivery agents. Professor Kiskerwill use the ultracentrifugation in her studies of DNA repair whileProfessor de Los Santos will make use of the instrument in his studies ofdamaged DNA. DNA repair is essential for maintaining the correct geneticinformation. Mutations are the primary cause of hereditary diseases, aswell as cancer, and may also be involved in aging. Professors' London andSmith will investigate fundamental issues in membrane protein structure andfolding and the ultracentrifuge will play an important role in their work.It is estimated that 30 % of all proteins are membrane proteins but verylittle is known about their structure and folding despite the fact thatthey play a central role in many important biological processes. ProfessorRaleigh will use the instrument in his studies of the process of proteinfolding. The protein-folding problem refers to the mechanism by which aninitially unfolded protein achieves its final functional structure. It haslong been known that the linear sequence of aminoacids dictates the finalfolded structure of proteins but the rules that govern this key assemblyprocess are still not understood. Professor Sampson will use the instrumentin her studies of the important enzyme cholesterol oxidase, which is usedas a cholesterol sensor. Professor Sampson and Professor Tonge will makeuse of the instrument in their basic studies of enzyme functions while thelaboratory of Professor Scarlata will apply the instrument to studies ofviral assembly. Professor Schindelin will use the ultracentrifuge in hisstudies of the proteins involved in the biosynthesis of critical molybdenumcofactors. The consortium of investigators who will make use of the analyticalultracentrifuge study fundamental problems in biology, biochemistry andpolymer chemistry. Many biologically important molecules as well as manyman made macromolecules work in tandem with closely associated partners.Understanding the detailed nature of these interactions is key tounderstanding these complex systems. An analytical ultracentrifuge isrequired for these studies. Examples taken from work at SUNY Stony Brookinclude studies of critical proteins involved in the repair of damagedgenetic material, the assembly of viruses, the behavior of novel newmaterials made from C60 ("buckyball" derivatives), and studies of thefundamental processes by which proteins acquire their biologically activestate. The instrument will also greatly enhance the infrastructure fortraining graduate students at SUNY Stony Brook and will also benefitresearchers at nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory