Understanding and Controlling Biomolecular Structure and Function at Surfaces and Interfaces

有了这个新的奖项，化学系的化学结构、动力学和机制计划(CSDM-A)和生命过程化学计划(CLP)支持了德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的Lauren Webb教授的一个项目，该项目将研究在允许研究蛋白质活性的条件下将蛋白质附着到表面的新方法。这些研究将允许构建附着有功能蛋白质的表面，将在材料科学和生物医学工程中得到应用。这个项目将生物物理学、分子生物学与表面和材料化学结合在一起，将为学生提供多学科培训，从本科生到博士后，包括那些在科学界历史上代表性不足的群体。韦伯和她的团队正在进行一项多管齐下的努力，目的是开发模仿稳定和功能性生物材料的表面，能够同时具有自然和人工功能。正在进行的具体实验包括：(1)利用具有工程二级结构的多肽对烷基硫醇表面进行化学功能化的进一步工作；(2)将更复杂的蛋白质结合到(1)中创建的蛋白质表面；(3)使用(1)中开发的表面功能化来驱动表面蛋白质聚集体的形成；(4)使用蛋白质功能化表面将功能形式的酶结合到表面并测量其活性。与韦伯教授一起工作的学生在分析、物理和生化方法方面获得了丰富的经验。这种跨学科培训为他们在技术劳动力中的工作做好了准备。

With this new award, the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms A Program (CSDM-A) and the Chemistry of Life Processes Program (CLP) of the Division of Chemistry support Professor Lauren Webb of the University of Texas at Austin in a project that will investigate new methods for attaching proteins to surfaces under conditions that allow the protein activity to be studied. These studies, which will allow construction of surfaces with functional proteins attached, will have applications in material science and biomedical engineering. This project, which combines biophysics, molecular biology with surface and materials chemistry, will provide multidisciplinary training to students, from undergraduates to post-doctorals, including those from groups historically underrepresented in the sciences.Prof. Webb and her group are conducting a multi-pronged effort with the aim of developing surfaces that mimic stable and functional biological materials capable of both natural and artificial functions. Specific experiments that are being conducted include: (1) the further work on the chemical functionalization of alkane thiol surfaces with peptides, with engineered secondary structure; (2) the binding of more complex protiens to the protein surfaces created in (1); (3) the use of surface functionalization developed in (1) to drive the formation of protein aggregates on the surface; (4) the use of protein-functionalized surfaces to bind functional forms of enzymes to the surface and to measure their activity. Students working with Prof. Webb are obtaining significant experience in analytical, physical and biochemical methods. This interdisciplinary training prepares them for work in the technical workforce.