Grafting-from Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization from Proteins

蛋白质是生物学的微观主力，当用于生物技术时，它能够精巧地执行各种各样的功能。蛋白质的一个常见问题是它们对环境条件的稳定性差。蛋白质在高温或化学条件恶劣的环境中会迅速失去活性。解决这个问题的常用策略是直接将聚合物附着在蛋白质上以提高其稳定性。Pokorski教授和他在加州大学圣地亚哥分校的团队正在设计新的方法来简化蛋白质-聚合物混合物的合成，在聚合物元素中引入新的功能，并开发出在不损害其自然功能的情况下精确修饰蛋白质的方法。此外，该团队将利用该研究平台培养高中生，本科生和研究生，继续将我们的国家定位为未来几代人的科学和技术领导者。Pokorski和他的团队正在开发直接从蛋白质宏观引发剂表面进行开环复分解聚合（ROMP）的方法。在水环境和包括蛋白质的复杂介质中，ROMP具有挑战性。该团队旨在从化学角度优化接枝，以精确控制分子量，为聚合物引入新功能，并对活性位点远端的蛋白质进行位点特异性标记。该研究主要集中在三个具体目标上：1)优化蛋白质大引发剂复合物，以创建易于控制分子量和分散性的活聚合过程；2)扩大单体范围，包括两性离子、草生冰片烯和环烯单体；3)位点特异性标记蛋白质、N端和c端，以及特定氨基酸。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Proteins are the microscopic workhorses of biology and are able to exquisitely perform a wide variety of functions when used in biotechnology. A common problem with proteins though is their poor stability to environmental conditions. Proteins can rapidly lose activity at elevated temperatures or in chemically harsh environments. A common strategy employed to address this issue is to directly attach a polymer to the protein to improve upon stability. Prof. Pokorski and his team at the University of California, San Diego are designing new approaches to streamline the synthesis of protein-polymer hybrids, introduce new function into the polymeric element, and develop methods to modify the protein precisely without impairing its natural function. Furthermore, the team will utilize the research platform to train high school, undergraduate and graduate students to continue to position our nation as a leader in science and technology for future generations.Dr. Pokorski and his team are developing approaches to perform ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) directly from the surface of a protein macroinitiator. ROMP is challenging under aqueous environments and in complex media that includes proteins. The team aims to optimize grafting-from chemistry in order to precisely control molecular weight, introduce new function to the polymers, and site-specifically label proteins distal to their active sites. The research focuses on three specific aims: 1) optimizing the protein macroinitiator complex to create living polymerization process where molecular weight and dispersity are easily controlled, 2) expand the monomer scope to include zwitterions, oxanorbornenes, and cyclooctene monomers, and 3) site-specifically label proteins and the N- and C-terminus, as well as specific amino acids.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.