Ligand-Macromolecule Recognition: A Collaboration in Research and Education Between Vanderbilt and Leipzig Universities.

范德比尔特大学和莱比锡大学在化学生物学领域将建立可持续的教育和研究合作，通过将化学工具化合物与生物物理技术相结合来研究配体-大分子识别的基本原理。这两个机构的研究重点相似，并结合互补技术，将为学生和博士后研究员提供全面的教育。范德比尔特大学(VU)的延斯·梅勒和莱比锡大学(LU)的安妮特·贝克-西金格(Annette Beck-Sickinger)带头提出了这一倡议。智力优势：尽管配体-大分子识别是生物过程的核心，但人们对它的理解仍然很少。Lu以独特的工具化合物提供基础科学专业知识，例如碳硼烷类似物、非天然氨基酸多肽、标记的人膜蛋白表达的领先技术以及此类膜蛋白的固体核磁共振研究。此外，VU？S在液态核磁共振和电子顺磁共振研究方面的翻译科学专业知识、用于识别新型工具化合物的高通量筛选设备以及用于配体大分子识别的独特计算建模技术也与之相辅相成。通过共同开发新的生化分析方法，进一步加强了合作。更广泛的影响：该项目将支持a)计划访问，以及b)各级交换学生和博士后研究员。延斯·梅勒和其他五名VU教员计划每年访问德国莱比锡的路易斯安那大学四次。在逗留期间，弗吉尼亚大学的研究人员将出席科学研讨会，参加圆桌讨论，并与潜在的合作者一对一会面。技术交流将通过教职员工提供的教程来促进。教职员工还将制定和实施学生交流的导师计划。每年至少有六次研究访问将涉及弗吉尼亚大学学生或博士后研究员的交流和共同指导。参加国际项目，教授和学习新思想，出版科学手稿，参加研究研讨会，这些都是对年轻科学家来说非常宝贵的经验。他们参与国际交流将拓宽他们的视野，从而使他们在各自领域更具竞争力。学生们将与他们的合作者分享想法和技术，并同样地用在LU获得的知识指导他们的家庭实验室。此外，他们的经验将增加国际研究奖学金计划的申请人数。和？研究生研究奖学金计划？交流访问得到一套全面的非现场工具的补充，如联合网站(www.leipzig.vanderbilt.edu)、用于交换数据和教程的项目维基页面以及视频会议。这项提议还包括交换本科生，重点关注在科学界代表性不足的群体，利用PI？S职业生涯奖本科生开放日。这种合作是互惠互利的，因为它提供了获得互补知识和技术的途径。研究人员将往返两个方向：美国研究人员通过本提案提供支持，德国研究人员通过德国学术交流服务和德国研究基金会提供赠款支持。

Vanderbilt and Leipzig Universities in the area of Chemical Biology will establish a sustainable collaboration in education and research to study the fundamentals of ligand-macromolecule recognition by combining chemical tool compounds with biophysical techniques. The similar research foci of both institutions combined with complementary technologies will provide students and post-doctoral fellows with a comprehensive education. Jens Meiler of Vanderbilt University (VU) and Annette Beck-Sickinger of Leipzig University (LU) spearhead this initiative. Intellectual Merit: Although ligand-macromolecule recognition is at the core of biologicalprocesses, it is still poorly understood. LU offers basic science expertise with unique tool compoundssuch as carbaborane analogues, non-natural amino acid peptides, leading technology for expression of labeled human membrane proteins and solid-state NMR studies of such membrane proteins. This is complemented by VU?s translational science expertise in liquid-state NMR and EPR studies, a high-throughput screening facility to identify novel tool compounds, and computational modeling technologies unique for ligandmacromolecule recognition. The collaboration is further strengthened throughthe joint development of novel biochemical assays. Broader Impacts: This project will support a) planning visits, and b) exchange of students andpost-doctoral fellows on all levels. Four planning visits of Jens Meiler and five other VU faculty to LU inLeipzig, Germany will occur on an annual basis. During their stay the VU researchers will present at scientific symposia, participate in roundtable discussions, and meet with potential collaborators one-on-one. Technology exchange will befostered through tutorials offered by the faculty. The faculty will also develop and implement mentorshipplans for student exchanges. At least six research visits per year will involve the exchange and co-mentoringof students or post-doctoral fellows from VU. Participating in an international program, teachingand learning new ideas, publication of a scientific manuscript, and attending research seminars arecollectively experiences that are invaluable for a young scientist. Their participation in internationalexchange will broaden their perspectives, thus making them more competitive in their field. The studentswill share ideas and techniques with their collaborators, and similarly instruct their home laboratory withthe knowledge gained at LU. Additionally, their experiences will enhance applications to the ?InternationalResearch Fellowship Program? and ?Graduate Research Fellowship Program?. Exchange visits arecomplemented by a comprehensive set of off-site tools such as joint website (www.leipzig.vanderbilt.edu),project wiki pages to exchange data and tutorials, and video conferences. The proposal further involvesexchange of undergraduate students with focus on groups underrepresented in science leveraging thePI?s CAREER award undergraduate open house. The collaboration is mutually beneficial as it providesaccess to complementary knowledge and technologies. Researchers will travel in both directions: U.S.researchers supported through the present proposal, German researchers through grant support from theGerman Academic Exchange Service and the German Research Foundation.