CAREER: Investigation of biological signaling with complexes that release zinc upon illumination with light

生命过程化学（CLP）计划中的这项研究奖支持康涅狄格大学Shawn Burdette教授的工作，以开发在暴露于光时释放锌的复合物。目前的研究表明，不稳定的锌可能作为一种神经递质和细胞内的信号剂。虽然锌可以通过电刺激或外源性地从细胞内囊泡中释放，但新的笼状金属络合物将允许更好地控制引入生物样品中的锌的量，并具有增强的空间和时间分辨率。笼状络合物是金属离子螯合剂，当暴露于特定波长的光时释放分析物。笼的结构性质将合理地和系统地变化，以调节笼状复合物的性质用于所需的生物应用。此外，一个夏季研究计划，为康涅狄格州高中学生提供化学研究（探索性化学研究经验和培训，秘密学校）将继续每年提供。从代表性不足的群体中招募更多的学生将是一个重点领域。锌信号通路和锌稳态的破坏与许多人类疾病和病症有关。了解锌的潜在信号功能对于制定治疗这些疾病的策略非常重要。开发笼状复合物将提供研究这些锌信号通路所需的化学工具。

This research award in the Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) program supports work by Professor Shawn Burdette at the University of Connecticut to develop complexes that release zinc upon exposure to light. Current research suggests that labile zinc may function as a neurotransmitter and signaling agent within cells. While zinc can be released from intracellular vesicles by electrical stimulation or applied exogenously, the new caged metal complexes will allow greater control over the amount of zinc introduced into biological specimens with enhanced spatial and temporal resolution. Caged complexes are metal ion chelators that release analytes when exposed to light of a specific wavelength. The structural properties of cages will be varied rationally and systematically to tune the properties of the caged complexes for the desired biological applications. In addition, a summer research program to provide Connecticut high school students to chemistry research (School of Exploratory Chemistry Research Experience and Training, SECRET) will continue to be offered on a yearly basis. Recruiting more students for SECRET from underrepresented groups will be an area of emphasis. Disruption of zinc signaling pathways and zinc homeostasis are implicated in numerous human diseases and disorders. Understanding the underlying signaling functions of zinc is important for developing strategies to treat these conditions. Developing caged complexes will provide the chemical tools that are necessary for studying these zinc signaling pathways.