Metal Coordination Compounds as Reporters for Biological NO

这个无机、生物无机和有机金属化学项目的研究奖支持麻省理工学院的Stephen Lippard教授使用金属配合物作为生物一氧化氮（NO）的报告探针的工作。一氧化氮是控制许多生物功能的重要分子，包括心脏和其他器官的平滑肌扩张，大脑中的信号传导和免疫系统的功能。本项目通过基于过渡金属化学的明亮发光分子的制备和应用来研究这些作用，以跟踪一氧化氮的生成和向其生物靶标的易位。目标包括蛋白质中含有铁或锌与硫结合的单位，这些单位与一氧化氮及其衍生物的反应正在研究中，以提供解释生命系统中一氧化氮转导作用的化学基准。该项目的研究生和博士后研究人员是麻省理工学院本科生研究机会参与者的导师。这些科学家接受的训练是交流他们的工作；许多人随后在学术或工业组织中担任重要职位，有些人积极参与剑桥和波士顿社区当地学校的推广项目。一氧化氮传感器将有助于筛选革兰氏阳性细菌（如炭疽和葡萄球菌）中产生一氧化氮的酶抑制剂的化学文库。金黄色葡萄球菌，从而为开发新型抗生素提供线索。一氧化氮与铁硫簇的化学性质将有助于指导开发用于环境净化的催化剂，因为氮氧化物是燃料燃烧过程的有毒副产物。

This Research award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program supports work by Professor Stephen Lippard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to employ metal coordination complexes as reporting probes for biological nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is an important molecule that controls many biological functions including smooth muscle dilation in the heart and other organs, signaling in the brain, and functioning of the immune system. This project investigates these roles through the preparation and application of bright, light-emitting molecules based on transition metal chemistry to track the generation and translocation of nitric oxide to its biological targets. Included among the targets are units in proteins that contain iron or zinc bound to sulfur, and the reactions of these units with nitric oxide and its derivatives are being investigated to provide benchmarks for interpreting the chemistry that transduces the action of NO in living systems. Graduate and postdoctoral researchers on the project are mentors to undergraduate research opportunity participants at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These scientists are trained to communicate their work; many subsequently assume key positions in academic or industrial organizations and some are active in outreach programs at local schools in the Cambridge and Boston communities.Sensors for nitric oxide will facilitate the screening of chemical libraries for inhibitors of the enzyme that produces NO in Gram-positive bacteria such as anthrax and Staph. aureus, thus providing leads for novel antibiotics. The chemistry of nitric oxide with iron-sulfur clusters will help guide efforts to develop catalysts for environmental cleanup since nitrogen oxides are toxic byproducts of fuel combustion processes.