Collaborative Research: Determination of Oceanic Copper and Zinc using Biosensor Technology

PI建议开发基于荧光的光纤生物传感器，用于连续原位测量海洋中游离Zn 2+和Cu 2+的痕量水平，真实的时间。这些生物传感器使用生物分子碳酸酐酶来测量游离金属离子的水平，作为可以通过一段光纤测量的荧光强度或寿命的变化。使用生物分子作为换能器赋予这些光学传感器无与伦比的选择性和灵敏度。在传感器分子、荧光标记和光学器件方面提出的改进将允许在水柱深处和缺氧沃茨中进行测量，在这些地方，目前的分析技术无法获得所需的数据。这种能力将允许在表面锌的生物利用度，铜的甲烷氧化菌和微生物的可用性，并在还原条件下的铜的可用性的核心重要性的问题，最终得到解决。该项目的一个主要目标是培训学生，并向学科外的学生介绍海洋地球化学和船上环境中研究的特殊性。

The PIs propose to develop fluorescence-based fiber optic biosensors designed to measure oceanic trace levels of free Zn2+ and Cu2+ continuously in situ, in real time. These biosensors use a biomolecule, carbonic anhydrase, to transduce the level of free metal ion as a change in fluorescence intensity or lifetime that can be measured through a length of optical fiber. The use of the biomolecule as transducer confers unmatched selectivity and sensitivity on these optical sensors. Proposed improvements in the transducer molecule, fluorescent labels, and optics will permit measurement deep in the water column and in anoxic waters, where current analytical technology is incapable of acquiring the needed data. This capability will permit questions of central importance in surface zinc bioavailability, Cu availability for methanotrophs and denitrifiers, and Cu availability in reducing conditions to finally be addressed. A key goal of this project is the training of students and the introduction of students outside the discipline to marine biogeochemistry and the special character of research in a shipboard environment.