Bacterial Light Sensing by Photoactive Yellow Protein

生物信号传导过程帮助生物体对环境的变化做出反应，并确保其内部过程的适当调节。当受体蛋白通过与信号的相互作用而被激活时，生物信号传导开始。生物信号传导的两个重要研究领域是（i）分离的受体蛋白的结构和化学性质和（ii）活细胞和生物体中信号传导途径的鉴定。该项目将使用称为光敏黄蛋白（PYP）的细菌感光器作为模型系统，以获得这两个研究领域之间的直接联系。直到最近，细菌光感受器被认为是仅存在于少数光养细菌中的特化蛋白质。出乎意料的是，细菌基因组测序项目揭示了许多化养生物也含有感光蛋白。本项目将探索细菌光敏的这一发展领域。该研究将探索PYP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光激活后发生的结构和化学变化中哪些是活细菌细胞中信号传导所需的。将探讨细菌信号的基本方面，特别是部分蛋白质展开作为一种新的信号机制的作用。增加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。来自代表性不足的少数民族的本科生将积极参与拟议的研究。此外，还将在成功的“静水科学咖啡馆”组织一系列演讲。这些演讲将针对小学生，并涉及互动演示和动手示范由俄勒冈州立大学教师对他们目前的研究在生物生命科学。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.