Synthesis of Glycogen in Bacteria and Starch in Plants: Structure-Function Relationship of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase

该项目将研究adp -葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的进化和结构，adp -葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶是控制植物淀粉和细菌糖原生产的酶。这是一个有趣的案例研究，因为这种酶根据生物体的需要进化获得不同的催化和调节作用。尽管植物和细菌在催化和调控方面存在差异，但似乎有一个共同的机制来触发这种调控。具体来说，该项目将试图确定催化功能如何沿着adp -葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的进化树分化，并确定激活共同调控触发的负责区域。将使用不同的技术，包括分子克隆、诱变、计算和生化研究。该酶的保守和发散功能元件的特征将解释如何在酶家族中进化出新的角色，例如adp -葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶。更广泛的影响更好地理解adp -葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的功能进化可能导致对其性质的合理操纵。因此，具有修饰adp -葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的转基因植物可以改善农业上重要的作物或用于生物燃料生产的藻类。该研究的几个方面将对社会产生教育影响。1)本科学生将接受从事研究和学习科学伦理的训练，这将是未来专业人员不可替代的经验，或者是成为科学家的决定性因素。将培养两名研究生，他们将来可能成为科学家或教师。考虑到在芝加哥洛约拉大学化学系有几个未被充分代表的少数民族和女性，这个项目很可能会使人口中未被充分代表的部分受益。3)在阿根廷圣达菲（Santa Fe）和美国芝加哥（Chicago）举办国际研讨会，以加强对美国研究生和/或大四本科生的研究教育。4)洛约拉科学和数学教育中心的教职员工将根据这项拟议研究的范围，合作开发高中教师的示范课程。

The project will study the evolution and structure of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases, which are the enzymes that control the production of starch in plants and glycogen in bacteria. This is an interesting case study because this enzyme evolved to acquire different catalytic and regulatory roles according to the necessities of the organism. Despite the divergence in catalysis and regulation between plant and bacterial forms, it seems that there is a common mechanism to trigger the regulation. Specifically, this project will try to identify how catalytic function has diverged along the evolutionary tree of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases and identify the responsible regions for the common regulatory trigger for activation. Different techniques will be used, including molecular cloning, mutagenesis, computational and biochemical studies. The characterization of conserved and divergent functional elements of this enzyme will explain how new roles can evolve in an enzyme family such as the one from ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases.Broader impactsA better understanding of the functional evolution of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase could lead to a rational manipulation of their properties. Consequently, transgenic plants with modified ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases may improve agriculturally important crops or algae for biofuel production. Several aspects of the research will have an educational impact in the society. 1) Undergraduate students will be trained to perform research and learn the ethic of science, which will be an irreplaceable experience for a future professional, or a deciding factor to become a scientist. 2) Two graduate students will be trained, who will possibly become either a future scientist or teacher. Considering that there are several underrepresented minorities in science and women studying in the Department of Chemistry at Loyola University Chicago, it is likely that this project will benefit an underrepresented fragment of the population. 3) International workshops will be organized in Santa Fe (Argentina) and Chicago (USA) to enhance the research education of American graduate and/or senior undergraduate students. 4) Faculty and staff of Loyola's Center for Science and Math Education will collaborate to develop model lessons for high school teachers based on the scope of this proposed research.