Collaborative Research: Membrane Nanodomains--Prediction and Detection

合作研究：膜纳米域——预测和检测

• 批准号: 0825839
• 负责人: John Dolbow
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: Duke University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-08-01 至 2013-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0825839&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Membrane; Nanodomains; Prediction

The research objective of this award is to predict and detect the formation of lipid nanodomains in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Lipid nanodomains are believed to play a significant role in a number of critical cellular processes, including replication processes in enveloped viruses such as bird flu and HIV and signaling mechanisms underlying pathological conditions such as cancer. The research approach involves three main activities:1) developing the first imaging modality suitable to detect and characterize the formation of nanodomains; 2) developing multiscale models and numerical methodologies for nanoraft simulation; and 3) identifying the conditions needed for the formation of nanodomains and image them in GUVs. An important byproduct of these activities concerns addressing the question of whether or not such nanodomains can form at all in the absence of auxiliary stabilizing agents such as proteins.If successful, the results of this research will provide an imaging modality that can be transferred to bioscientists to observe and detect, and eventually help control, the emergence of rafts in cells. Such knowledge might be used, for example, to guide the development of treatment schemes for cancer involving the control of growth factors and other membrane signaling molecules. Results from the research activities will be disseminated by providing the microscope techniques to manufacturers, making the computer codes freely available online to other scientists and engineers, and by providing images and animations to teachers and science museums. Undergraduate and graduate engineering students will be trained in the experimental, theoretical, and computational techniques involved in this research through a system of lab rotations

该奖项的研究目标是预测和检测巨单层囊泡（GUV）中脂质纳米结构域的形成。脂质纳米结构域被认为在许多关键的细胞过程中发挥重要作用，包括包膜病毒如禽流感和HIV中的复制过程以及病理条件如癌症的信号传导机制。该研究方法涉及三个主要活动：1）开发适合检测和表征纳米畴形成的第一种成像模式; 2）开发用于纳米柱模拟的多尺度模型和数值方法;以及3）确定形成纳米畴所需的条件并在GUV中对其进行成像。这些活动的一个重要副产品涉及解决这样的纳米结构域是否可以在没有辅助稳定剂（如蛋白质）的情况下形成的问题。如果成功，这项研究的结果将提供一种成像模式，可以转移到生物科学家来观察和检测，并最终帮助控制细胞中筏的出现。例如，这些知识可以用于指导癌症治疗方案的开发，包括控制生长因子和其他膜信号分子。研究活动的成果将通过向制造商提供显微镜技术、向其他科学家和工程师免费提供在线计算机代码以及向教师和科学博物馆提供图像和动画来传播。本科生和研究生工程专业的学生将通过实验室轮换系统接受本研究所涉及的实验、理论和计算技术方面的培训