RUI: Characterizing Protein Nanopores with Modified Caps

化学测量和成像计划支持教授们的合作。Daniel Burden和Lisa Keranen Burden在惠顿学院(IL)研究单一蛋白质纳米孔的新修饰。这项研究系统地探索了α溶血素的一系列化学加成，α溶血素是一种纳米孔形成蛋白，在离子和小分子传感、聚合物表征、DNA测序和生物医学分析中具有潜在的应用。通过解决单纳米孔传输理论、膜蛋白质结构和动力学、合成生物化学和蛋白质纯化等基本问题，这项跨学科工作获得了广泛的影响。许多生物物理技术，包括原子力显微镜、单分子荧光显微镜、单离子通道电生理学、朗缪尔槽单分子层测量和细胞裂解实验被用来表征纳米孔结构和功能。计算机建模工具被用来产生对新的纳米孔设计原理的理论理解。由于某些蛋白质在细胞膜上形成小孔或孔，科学家们最近开始设计方法来检测通过孔内的各种化学物质。该项目通过研究纳米孔的结构变化与分子传输之间的关系，推动了纳米孔传感领域的发展。除了对纳米孔科学和工程的贡献外，该项目还通过创建一个独特的环境，促进来自不同科学学科(包括化学、生物、物理和计算机科学)的学生和教职员工之间的融合，从而实现高质量的本科生研究教育。这项工作对生物医学传感具有潜在的商业意义，并涉及来自大芝加哥地区的代表性不足的少数族裔。该计划的各个方面将被纳入本科课程，包括生物化学、高级分析化学和普通生物学实验室的课程。

The Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program supports the collaboration of Profs. Daniel Burden and Lisa Keranen Burden at Wheaton College (IL) to investigate novel modifications of single protein nanopores. The research systematically explores a series of chemical additions to alpha hemolysin, a nanopore-forming protein with potential applications in ion and small molecule sensing, polymer characterization, DNA sequencing, and biomedical analyses. The interdisciplinary work gains broad impact by addressing fundamental questions in single-nanopore transport theory, membrane protein structure and dynamics, synthetic biochemistry, and protein purification. A host of biophysical techniques, including atomic force microscopy, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, single ion-channel electrophysiology, Langmuir trough monolayer measurements, and cell lysis assays are employed to characterize the structure and function of the nanopore constructs. Computer modeling tools are used to generate a theoretical understanding of novel nanopore design principles.Because certain proteins form small holes or pores in cell membranes, scientists have recently begun devising ways to detect various chemicals as they pass through the pore interior. This project advances the field of nanopore sensing by investigating the relationship between structural changes to the nanopore and molecule transport. Beyond contributions to nanopore science and engineering, the program enables high quality undergraduate research education by creating a unique environment that fosters integration among students and faculty from different scientific disciplines, including chemistry, biology, physics and computer science. The work has potential commercial relevance for biomedical sensing and involves under-represented minorities from the greater Chicago area. Aspects of the program will be incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum, including courses in biochemistry, advanced analytical chemistry, and the general biology laboratory.