DNA Hybridization and Antibody-Antigen Competitive Equilibria in Confined Spaces

化学系的分析和表面化学计划将支持加州大学伯克利分校的Marin Majda教授的研究计划。马吉达教授的研究项目主要集中在有限空间中的DNA杂交和抗体-抗原竞争平衡。他研究的长期目标是开发新一代超灵敏蛋白质和DNA微型传感器，用于生物研究和医疗诊断。如果成功，这些传感器将更便宜，一次性和简单使用，因为它们不需要任何额外的试剂。他们将能够同时测定极少量样本(如生理液体)中的一些特定蛋白质和DNA片段。为了实现这一目标，Majda教授和他的学生将测试两个基本想法，这两个想法将导致和促进传感器的发展。首先，他们将研究限制反应生物分子周围空间对控制生物反应平衡的性质的影响。其次，他们将测试一个独特的假说，该假说规定，通过施加微小的磁力来削弱某些生物相互作用，例如那些涉及抗体-抗原结合的相互作用，可以改变生物反应平衡的位置，从而改变其进程。这两个想法都将通过使用DNA或抗体-抗原复合体将微米直径的顺磁性聚合物微球固定在玻璃片上来进行研究。因此，微珠和玻片之间的空间将用来限制生物分子。利用位于玻璃片表面上方精确可控距离的一堆永久磁铁的磁场，可以对微球施加精确可控的力，从而对形成系绳的分子施加精确可控的力。该项目将在一个高度多学科的研究领域为学生提供极好的培训机会，具有极大影响临床诊断领域的潜力。

The Analytical and Surface Chemistry program in the Division of Chemistry will support the research program of Prof. Marcin Majda of the University of California at Berkeley. The research program of Prof. Majda focuses on DNA Hybridization and Antibody-Antigen Competitive Equilibria in Confined Spaces. The long term goal of his research is to develop a new generation of ultra-sensitive protein and DNA micro-sensors for use in biological research and medical diagnostics. If successful, these sensors will be less expensive, disposable and simple to use as they will not require any additional reagents. They will be capable to simultaneously determine a number of specific proteins and DNA fragments in very small volumes of samples such as physiological fluids. To realize this goal Prof. Majda and his students will test two fundamental ideas that will lead to and promote the sensor development. First, they will examine the effect of confining the space surrounding the reacting biological molecules on the nature of the equilibria governing biological reactions. Secondly, they will test a unique hypothesis that stipulates that it is possible to shift the position of the equilibrium of a biological reaction, and thus to alter its course, by applying small magnetic forces to weaken certain biological interactions such as those involved in antibody-antigen binding. Both of these ideas will be investigated by using micron-diameter, paramagnetic, polymer micro-spheres attached to a glass slide using DNA or antibody-antigen complexes. Thus the space between the micro-bead and the glass slide will serve to confine the bio-molecules. Using the magnetic field of a stack of permanent magnets positioned at a precisely controlled distance above the surface of a glass slide, it will be possible to apply precisely controlled forces to the micro-spheres and thus to the molecules forming the tethers. The project will provide excellent training opportunities to students in a highly multidisciplinary research area with potential to greatly impact the field of clinical diagnostics.