CAREER: Application of Fluorescence-Based Tools in Research and Educational Domains - Illuminating Local Ca2+ Signals in Cells and DNA-Based Methods in Local Schools

职业发展补助金已授予乔纳森·S博士。明尼苏达大学的Marchant等人定义了三磷酸肌醇受体的调节特性。三磷酸肌醇受体是一种细胞内蛋白质，通过调节细胞质内的钙浓度来控制细胞生理学中的许多事件。然而，细胞质钙的过度增加对细胞是有毒的，并且三磷酸肌醇受体功能的失调与许多严重的异常有关。Marchant博士的方法将涉及在模式生物热带爪蟾中应用基于荧光的方法来定义三磷酸肌醇受体在其自然环境中的行为。这种方法将最好地提供洞察这些蛋白质如何在体内细胞内发挥作用，相比之下，在体外试管环境中的生理学。这些研究的结果将提高我们对细胞如何对过多药物做出适当或不适当反应的理解，激素和神经递质的作用，通过这一细胞内信号转导途径。这些研究活动的更广泛的影响将实现通过翻译的荧光-基于方法的常规应用在博士Marchant的实验室到教育领域作为一个推广培训计划，以高中教师。该推广计划将包括教师培训“复习”课程，由专为高中使用的实用模块支持，说明基于荧光的方法在分子，细胞和基因组研究中的应用。鉴于分子遗传革命的步伐，对教师进行再培训，使其有能力向学生介绍新兴技术的社会影响，这是教育组织和政府面临的一个关键挑战。该项目将通过结合面对面培训活动、分发实用资源和远程支持的长期互联网“公告板”界面来满足这一需求。

A CAREER development grant has been awarded to Dr. Jonathan S. Marchant of the University of Minnesota to define the regulatory properties of the inositol trisphosphate receptor. The inositol trisphosphate receptor is an intracellular protein that controls many events in cellular physiology by regulating the calcium concentration within the cytoplasm. However, excessive increases in cytoplasmic calcium are toxic to cells, and dysregulation of inositol trisphosphate receptor function is implicated in many serious abnormalities. Dr. Marchant's approach will involve the application of fluorescent-based methods in the model organism Xenopus tropicalis to define the behavior of inositol trisphosphate receptors in their native environment. Such an approach will best provide insight into how these proteins function within cells in vivo, compared to a less physiological in vitro test-tube environment. The results from these studies will improve our understanding of how cells respond - appropriately or inappropriately - to the plethora of drugs, hormones and neurotransmitters that act through this intracellular signal transduction pathway.The broader impact of these research activities will be realized by translating the fluorescence-based methods routinely applied in Dr. Marchant's laboratory into the educational domain as an outreach training program to High School teachers. This outreach program will comprise teacher training 'refresher' courses supported by practical modules designed for High School use that illustrate the application of fluorescence-based methods in molecular, cellular and genomic research. Given the pace of the molecular genetic revolution, the issue of retraining teachers with a capacity to instruct students about the societal impact of emerging technologies is a key challenge for educational organizations and government alike. This project will address this need through a combination of face-to-face training activities, distribution of practical resources and a long-term internet based 'bulletin-board' interface for remote support.