Multiscale investigation of biomolecular force transduction

有了这个奖项，生命过程化学项目支持伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校的黛博拉·莱克班德教授的研究。Leckband教授的研究解决了基本的分子机制，使细胞能够感知和传播组织中细胞之间的机械信息。所有多细胞生物的细胞都是由分子“尼龙搭扣”连接在一起的，钙粘蛋白是其中的主要蛋白质成分。与钙粘蛋白相关的α -连环蛋白被认为是一种生物分子力传感器，它激活分子信号过程，与施加在细胞表面钙粘蛋白键上的机械力成比例。在这个角色中，α -连环蛋白作为一种纳米机器，将机械力转化为生化信号，以调节细胞功能。Leckband教授的项目将利用表面等离子体共振和单分子AFM（原子力显微镜）等技术研究-连环蛋白感知机械力的机制。由于-连环蛋白是一类控制细胞机械化学稳态的支架蛋白的代表，因此这项工作的广泛科学影响可能是相当深远的。同样重要的是，该项目将通过伊利诺斯大学的外展活动吸引对科学和工程感兴趣的中学女生。它还将为本科生和研究生提供教育和多学科培训的机会。通过这种方式，Leckband教授希望激发年轻科学家的好奇心，加深他们对科学的热情和承诺。

With this award, the Chemistry of Life Processes program is supporting the research of Professor Deborah Leckband of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Professor Leckband's research addresses the fundamental molecular mechanisms that enable cells to sense and propagate mechanical information between cells in tissues. The cells of all multicellular organisms are held together by molecular "Velcro", and cadherins are the principal protein components thereof. A protein, alpha-catenin, which is associated with cadherins is thought to act as a biomolecular force sensor, which activates molecular signaling processes in proportion to mechanical forces exerted on cadherin bonds at the cell surface. In this role, alpha-catenin functions as a nanomachine that converts mechanical force into biochemical signals, in order to regulate cell functions. Professor Leckband's program will investigate the mechanism by which alpha-catenin senses mechanical force using techniques including surface plasmon resonance and single molecule AFM (atomic force microscopy).Because alpha-catenin is representative of a broader class of scaffolding proteins that control the mechano-chemical homeostasis of cells, the broader scientific impact of the work may be quite far-reaching. As important, this program will engage middle school girls interested in science and engineering through outreach activities at the University of Illinois. It will also provide education and multi-disciplinary training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. In this way, Prof. Leckband aspires to spark young scientists' curiosity and deepen their passion for and commitment to science.