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

细菌中糖原和植物中淀粉的合成：ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的结构-功能关系

• 批准号: 1024945
• 负责人: Miguel Ballicora
• 金额: $ 49.68万
• 依托单位: Loyola University of Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1024945&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Synthesis; Glycogen; Bacteria; Starch; Plants

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.

该项目将研究ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的进化和结构，这是控制植物中淀粉和细菌中糖原生产的酶。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以获得不同的催化和调节作用。 尽管植物和细菌形式之间的催化和调节存在分歧，但似乎存在共同的机制来触发调节。具体而言，本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沿着发散，并确定共同的调节激活触发器的负责区域。将使用不同的技术，包括分子克隆，诱变，计算和生物化学研究。这种酶的保守和不同的功能元件的特性将解释如何新的角色可以在一个酶家族，如一个从ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的演变。更广泛的impactsA更好地了解ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的功能演变可能会导致其属性的合理操纵。因此，具有修饰的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藻类用于生物燃料生产。研究的几个方面将在社会上产生教育影响。1)本科生将接受培训，进行研究和学习科学的道德，这将是一个不可替代的经验，为未来的专业，或决定性因素，成为一名科学家。2)两名研究生将接受培训，他们可能成为未来的科学家或教师。考虑到芝加哥洛约拉大学化学系有几个代表性不足的少数民族和妇女，这个项目很可能会使代表性不足的一部分人口受益。3)将在圣达菲（阿根廷）和芝加哥（美国）组织国际研讨会，以加强美国研究生和/或高年级本科生的研究教育。4)洛约拉的科学与数学教育中心的教职员工将合作开发基于本研究范围的高中教师示范课。