Lipid-Cholesterol Interactions in Membranes

脂筏的研究吸引了生物和物理科学家的关注，研究人员使用模型脂质系统以及天然生物膜来试图更好地了解这些实体。 据推测，脂筏的形成是由于脂质和胆固醇之间形成复合物。本项目的目的是彻底测试复杂的形成假说使用单层，双层，单层囊泡和天然膜。这些不同的模型系统将提供有关脂筏结构和功能的信息。各种生物物理工具将被用来获得结构，形态学和热力学信息，从这些研究的结果将相互关联，以阐明脂质和甾醇之间的相互作用。 该项目还将弥合模型和自然膜系统之间的差距，并解决在各种模型系统中发现的一些不一致之处。从这项工作中获得的知识将大大增加我们对脂筏的基本理解。该项目将为学生提供培训机会，并将有助于培养下一代跨学科研究科学家。该项目将进一步帮助开发膜生物物理学研究生课程，以及由生物物理动力学研究所牵头的跨学科学位授予计划的课程开发，计划于2007年秋季开设第一堂课。除了研究生和博士后，研究机会也将扩展到高中，本科和国际交换生。国际研究合作将通过由PI与香港中文大学和芝加哥大学MRSEC的智利交流计划建立的暑期交换学生计划来促进。PI致力于增加妇女在学术科学领域的代表性。将通过PI作为芝加哥大学物理科学系物理科学妇女委员会的共同主席的参与，努力解决妇女在学术科学领域的机会问题。她还将接待来自芝加哥青年妇女领导特许学校的高中实习生，这是全国12所此类学校之一（YWLCS;全是女孩; 95%以上的少数民族）。

The study of lipid rafts has attracted the attention of biological and physical scientists alike, and researchers have used model lipid systems as well as natural biological membranes to try to better understand these entities. It has been postulated that lipid rafts form due to complex formation between lipids and cholesterol. The objective of this project is to thoroughly test the complex formation hypothesis using monolayers, bilayers, unilamellar vesicles and natural membranes. These different model systems will provide information about structure and function of lipid rafts. A variety of biophysical tools will be used to obtain structural, morphological, and thermodynamic information and results from these studies will be correlated with one another to elucidate the interaction between lipids and sterols. The project will also bridge the gap between model and natural membrane systems, and resolve some of the inconsistencies found in various model systems. The knowledge gained from this work will greatly add to our fundamental understanding of lipid rafts.This project will provide training opportunities for students and will help train the next generation of interdisciplinary research scientists. The project will further aid the development of a graduate course in membrane biophysics, as well as the curriculum development of an interdisciplinary degree-granting program spearheaded by the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics with the first incoming class planned for autumn of 2007. Apart from graduate students and postdocs, research opportunities will also be extended to high school, undergraduate, and international exchange students. International research collaboration will be promoted via a summer exchange student program established by the PI with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Chile Exchange Program of the University of Chicago MRSEC. The PI is committed to increasing the representation of women in academic science. Efforts will be made to address the opportunities for women in academic science via the PI's involvement as the co-chair of the Women in Physical Sciences Committee of the Physical Sciences Division at the University of Chicago. She will also host high school interns from the Young Women's Leadership Charter School in Chicago, one of twelve of its kind in the nation (YWLCS; all girl; 95%+ minorities).