Model Cytoplasm: From Fundamentals to Asymmetric Division of Cytomimetic Vesicles

模型细胞质：从基本原理到拟细胞囊泡的不对称分裂

• 批准号: 0750196
• 负责人: Christine Keating
• 金额: $ 59.5万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-02-15 至 2012-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0750196&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Model; Cytoplasm; Fundamentals; Asymmetric; Division

This award by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry program (with co-funding from the Cellular Systems Cluster of the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences) supports Professor Christine Keating and her group at Pennsylvania State University for constructing models of biological cells based on biologically relevant polymers and intracellular environments. The work aims to shed light on the possible role(s) of fundamental macromolecular chemistry in intracellular organization and biochemical microcompartmentation, exploring the possibility that these simple physical phenomena can lead to complex cellular behaviors such as differentiation and asymmetric reproduction. This is accomplished by characterizing aqueous protein and polyanion solutions as synthetic cytoplasms, and by using these new polymer systems to understand primitive routes to cell polarity and asymmetric cell division. Potential long-term implications include the possibility of designing drugs to target critical aspects of intracellular organization, as a complement to current methods based on enzyme active sites. Additional outcomes include advances in bioseparations and in the encapsulation of large drug molecules such as proteins in vesicle delivery vehicles. Students are trained at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and biology - an area of increasing importance for the future of medical and environmental science in the U.S. Outreach at the K-12 and undergraduate levels includes: (1) hosting a K-12 teacher each summer, (2) participation of undergraduate students in the research both during the summers and during the academic year, starting as early as the freshman level, and (3) partnering with existing outreach programs organized by on-campus groups including the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) summer camps for high school girls.

该奖项由分析和表面化学计划（与分子和细胞生物科学部门的细胞系统集群共同资助）支持克莉丝汀教授和她在宾夕法尼亚州立大学的小组，以构建基于生物相关聚合物和细胞内环境的生物细胞模型。 这项工作旨在阐明基础大分子化学在细胞内组织和生化微区室化中可能发挥的作用，探索这些简单的物理现象可能导致复杂的细胞行为，例如分化和不对称生殖。 这是通过表征蛋白质和聚阴离子水溶液作为合成的细胞色素，并通过使用这些新的聚合物系统，以了解细胞极性和不对称细胞分裂的原始路线。潜在的长期影响包括设计针对细胞内组织的关键方面的药物的可能性，作为对基于酶活性位点的当前方法的补充。 其他成果包括生物分离和囊泡运载工具中的蛋白质等大药物分子的封装方面的进展。 学生在化学，材料科学和生物学的接口培训-在K-12和本科水平的美国外展医疗和环境科学的未来越来越重要的领域包括：（1）每年夏天接待一名K-12教师，（2）本科生在夏季和学年期间参与研究，最早从大一开始，以及（3）与校园团体组织的现有外展计划合作，包括针对高中女生的女性科学与工程（WISE）夏令营。