Low cost ion channel measurement system for education

CBET-0828970 Jacob施密特，University of California-Los Angeles学术成就在单分子水平上研究离子通道通常需要在体外重建脂质双层，这是一个需要专门仪器和专业知识的微妙过程。一旦形成，双层是脆弱的，不能移动，需要在使用时形成。由于这些因素，专家是这种技术的唯一从业者。这是不幸的，因为膜和离子通道测量通常易于执行和解释。实验室访问这些系统的学生通常发生在高层次的本科或研究生专业课程，在主要研究者（PI）的观点不必要的限制。 最近，PI已经开发了一种高凝固点膜组合物，使双层自组装可逆中断。当在双层形成完成之前冷冻时，双层前体足够坚固以能够运输。随后解冻的膜在各方面都类似于常规形成的膜，并且还可以支持在单分子水平上测量离子通道。PI计划进一步开发这种冷冻膜技术，寻找最佳的溶液条件和基质材料，以最大限度地提高产量并最大限度地缩短形成时间。更广泛的影响该项目具有非常广泛的影响。对于项目本身的工作，将支持一名研究生和一名本科生的研究和培训。该项目的成果将在科学会议上公布和公开介绍。影响的最重要的组成部分在于创建一个便宜且易于使用的离子通道实验工具，高中学生不仅可以获得他们的背景和经验，而且还因为设备和用品的成本非常低。PI认为，这项技术有可能对高中科学课程产生巨大影响，因为它将增加以前从专业知识和成本角度来看不可能实现的功能。

CBET-0828970Jacob Schmidt, University of California-Los Angeles Intellectual merit Studying ion channels at the single molecule level commonly requires in vitro reconstitution of a lipid bilayer, a delicate process requiring specialized apparatus and expertise. Once formed, the bilayers are fragile and cannot be moved, necessitating their formation at the time and point of use. Because of these factors, specialists are the only practitioners of this technique. This is unfortunate because membrane and ion channel measurements are often simple to execute and interpret. Laboratory access to these systems by students typically occurs in upper level undergraduate or graduate major courses, an unnecessary limitation in the view of the Principal Investigator (PI). Recently, the PI has developed a high freezing point membrane composition enabling bilayer selfassembly to be reversibly interrupted. When frozen before bilayer formation is complete, the bilayer precursor is sufficiently robust to enable shipping. The subsequently thawed membranes resemble conventionally formed membranes in every way and can also support measurements of ion channels at the single molecule level. The PI plans to further develop this frozen membrane technology, find optimal solution conditions and substrate materials that maximize yield and minimize formation time.Broader impacts This project has a very large broader impact component. For the work on the project itself, the research and training of one graduate and one undergraduate student will be supported. The results of the project will be published and presented publicly at scientific meetings. The most significant component of the impact lies in the creation of an inexpensive and easy to use a tool for ion channel experimentation that will be accessible by high school students not only with respect to their background and experience but also because the apparatus and supplies have very low cost. The PI thinks that this technology has the potential to make a very large impact on high school science curricula as it will add capabilities that were not possible before from an expertise and cost perspective.