Bacterial Light Sensing by Photoactive Yellow Protein

生物信号传递过程帮助生物体对环境的变化做出反应，并确保对其内部过程进行适当的调节。当受体蛋白通过与信号的相互作用被激活时，生物信号就开始了。生物信号转导研究的两个重要领域是：(1)分离的受体蛋白的结构和化学性质；(2)活细胞和生物体内信号转导途径的鉴定。该项目将使用一种名为光活性黄色蛋白(PYP)的细菌光感受器作为模型系统，以获得这两个研究领域之间的直接联系。直到最近，细菌光感受器还被认为是只存在于少数光营养细菌中的特化蛋白质。出人意料的是，细菌基因组测序项目揭示了许多趋化细胞也含有光敏蛋白。这个项目将探索细菌光传感这一发展中的领域。这项研究将探索PYPs在许多非常不同的细菌生物体中的功能，将检查与PYP相关的信号转导链，并将揭示已知在PYP光激活时发生的结构和化学变化中的哪些是活细菌细胞中所需的信号。将探索细菌信号的基本方面，特别是部分蛋白质作为一种新的信号机制展开的作用。加深对生物信号的理解将对包括生物技术在内的一系列相关领域产生影响。来自少数族裔的本科生将积极参与这项拟议的研究。此外，还将在成功的“静水科学咖啡馆”举办一系列演讲。这些演讲将针对小学生，包括俄亥俄州立大学教职员工关于他们目前在生物生命科学方面的研究的互动演讲和动手演示。这将增加小学生对科学的理解和欣赏。

Biological signaling processes help organisms respond to changes in their environment and to ensure proper regulation of their internal processes. Biological signaling starts when a receptor protein is activated by interaction with a signal. Two important fields of research in biological signaling are (i) the structural and chemical properties of isolated receptor proteins and (ii) the identification of signaling pathways in living cells and organisms. This project will use a bacterial photoreceptor called photoactive yellow protein (PYP) as a model system to obtain a direct link between these two research areas. Until recently, bacterial photoreceptors were thought to be specialized proteins present only in a small number of phototrophic bacteria. Unexpectedly, bacterial genome sequencing projects have revealed that many chemotrophs also contain photosensory proteins. This project will explore this developing area of bacterial photosensing. The research will explore the function of PYPs in a number of very different bacterial organisms, will examine the signal transduction chain associated with PYP, and will uncover which of the structural and chemical changes that are known to occur upon the light activation of PYP are required for signaling in the living bacterial cell.Broader impacts. Fundamental aspects of bacterial signaling will be explored, particularly the role of partial protein unfolding as a novel signaling mechanism. An increased understanding of biological signaling will have implications for a range of relevant areas, including biotechnology. Undergraduate students from underrepresented minorities will be actively involved in the proposed research. In addition, a series of presentations in the successful "Stillwater Science Café" will be organized. These presentations will be aimed at elementary school students and involve interactive presentations and hands-on demonstrations by OSU faculty members on their current research in the biological life sciences. This will increase understanding of and appreciation for science in elementary school students.