NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Australia

该行动资助特拉华州大学的Christina福布斯于2013年夏季在澳大利亚昆士兰州圣卢西亚的昆士兰州大学开展数学和物理科学领域的研究项目。 该项目的标题是“合成修饰的环状蛋白Kalata B1。“主持人科学家是大卫克雷克博士。环肽（环肽）是具有连续环状骨架的小蛋白质，形成一种耐热和酶降解的结构。Kalata B1是一种由三个二硫键编织而成的植物源性环肽，具有非常稳定的抗HIV活性结构。由于其短序列，在Kalata B1中很少有不改变其核心结构稳定性的功能化位点。该项目通过将非天然氨基酸与生物正交化学“手柄”结合，为分子支架提供了一个独特的多功能和稳定的平台，从而拓宽了Kalata B1的潜在应用。这些集成的“手柄”可以进一步修改，以装饰合成Kalata B1与小分子，材料和蛋白质在材料科学和小分子库筛选中的应用。EAPSI奖学金的更广泛的影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验;介绍各自所在地的科学，科学政策和科学基础设施;以及社会，文化和语言的方向。 这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在科学家，工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期进行国际合作教育，从而确保具有全球意识的美国科学工作者。 此外，该奖学金将建立一个基于生物分子支架的可修饰环肽的设计，合成和应用的国际跨学科合作。这项工作完成后，结果将发表在同行评议的期刊上，以便其他研究人员可以在新的应用中使用cyclotide支架。

This action funds Christina Forbes of the University of Delaware to conduct a research project in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences area during the summer of 2013 at the University of Queensland in St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia. The project title is "Synthetic Modifications to the Cyclic Protein Kalata B1." The host scientist is Dr. David Craik.Cyclic peptides (cyclotides) are small proteins with a continuous circular backbone, forming a structure that is resistant to thermal and enzymatic degradation. Kalata B1 is a plant-derived cyclotide woven with three disulfide bonds, creating an exceptionally stable structure with anti-HIV activity. Due to its short sequence, there are few sites for functionalization in Kalata B1 that do not change its core structural stability. This project broadens the potential applications of Kalata B1 by incorporating non-natural amino acids with bioorthogonal chemical "handles," generating a uniquely versatile and stable platform for molecular scaffolding. These integrated "handles" can be further modified to decorate synthetic Kalata B1 with small molecules, materials, and proteins for applications in materials science and small molecule library screening.Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, this fellowship will establish an international, interdisciplinary collaboration based on the design, synthesis, and applications of modifiable cyclotides for biomolecular scaffolding. On completion of this work, the results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal so that other researchers may use cyclotide scaffolds in new applications.