Structural and morphological characterization of ceramide-1-phosphate model membranes

该奖项由化学部和国际科学与工程办公室的实验物理化学项目资助，肯特州立大学的Arne Gericke教授和他的研究生和本科生同事将研究神经酰胺-1-磷酸模型膜系统的物理化学行为。这项研究与德国基金会(DFG)资助的一个合作奖项相协调，该奖项授予马克斯·普朗克胶体和界面研究所的Gerald Brezesinski博士。这些模型膜系统的物理化学性质将作为一系列环境因素的函数进行研究：盐浓度、二价阳离子的存在以及其他类脂的存在和性质。将使用的表征工具很广泛，包括固体核磁共振、X射线散射、红外光谱、FRET和一套微观和热力学测量。这些研究的最终目标是更多地了解神经酰胺-1-磷酸的物理化学性质是如何与多种不同的生理功能相联系的。脂分子层包裹着所有细胞的内容物。科学家们越来越多地认识到，这些层是动态的、结构化的、本质上复杂的实体。像那些支持Gericke教授和他的同事的研究旨在加深对基本分子属性如何转化为生物系统更广泛类型的复杂属性的理解。这项研究处于物理学和生命科学的交汇点，从事这些项目的学生将接受出色的跨学科研究培训。此外，参与这些项目的学生将接触到国际背景下的研究。

In this award, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division and the Office of International Science and Engineering, Prof. Arne Gericke from Kent State University and his graduate and undergraduate student colleagues will investigate the physicochemical behavior of ceramide-1-phosphate model membrane systems. This research coordinates with a collaborative award funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) to Dr. Gerald Brezesinski from the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces. The physicochemical properties of these model membrane systems will be studied as a function of a number of environmental factors: salt concentration, presence of divalent cations, and the presence and nature of other lipids. The characterization tools that will be used are extensive, and include solid state NMR, X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy, FRET and a suite of microscopic and thermodynamic measurements. The ultimate goal of these studies is to learn more of how the physicochemical properties of ceramide-1-phosphate are linked to a broad number of diverse physiological functions. Lipid molecule layers enclose the contents of all cells. Scientists are increasingly learning that these layers are dynamic, structured and inherently complex entities. Studies like the ones supporting Prof. Gericke and his colleagues are aimed at developing an understanding of how fundamental molecular properties emerge into broader kinds of complex properties of biological systems. This research is at the intersection of the physical and life sciences, and the students working on these projects will receive outstanding interdisciplinary research training. In addition, students working on these projects will be exposed to research in an international setting.