MRI: Acquisition of a State-of-the-Art Analytical Ultracentrifuge for Biomedical and Materials Research

向亚利桑那大学提供了一项奖励，以支持购买分析超级计算机（AUC）。超过20个实验室将使用新的AUC，研究项目涵盖基础生物学，化学，材料科学，甚至生物医学研究。作为研究工作的一部分，235名学生，包括22名博士后，68名研究生和145名本科生将受益于最先进的仪器的培训。培训机会将扩大到西南地区的合作学校和机构。亚利桑那大学是一个西班牙裔服务机构，并主办了许多支持多样性和包容性的代表性不足的群体，其中许多将受益于新工具的培训计划。AUC也将用于本科实验室课程，学生将测试他们对各种酶的结构和功能产生的假设。此外，还将在亚利桑那州的各个学校开展的推广课程中进行“动手”演示，展示超浓缩的基本原理。AUC将促进研究，包括研究一种新的酶机制，涉及细丝形成，病毒复制蛋白质与DNA的结合，细胞信号传导中的蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用，以及内在无序蛋白质形成液滴。AUC将通过提供对配体结合亲和力、化学计量以及抑制机制涉及四级结构改变时的快速准确评估来促进一系列研究项目。可以检测蛋白质的化学标记（和标记的完整性），以及对四级结构、溶解度和聚集的任何影响。聚集是许多结构和功能研究的主要障碍，新的AUC将用于评估蛋白质制剂的稳定性和聚集。将分析含有纳米盘的脂质的质量和多分散性，以了解链和头基尺寸、结构和化学对脂质堆积的影响。材料科学研究也将受益于钨、钼和钛纳米颗粒的分析。 这些研究的结果将通过同行评审的期刊、科学会议上的演讲以及课堂和公共宣传演讲进行传播。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。

An award is made to the University of Arizona to support the purchase of an analytical ultracentrifuge (AUC). More than 20 laboratories will use the new AUC, with research programs spanning basic biology, chemistry, materials science, and even biomedical research. As part of the research effort, 235 students, including 22 postdoctoral, 68 graduate and 145 undergraduate students will benefit from training with the state-of-the-art instrumentation. The training opportunities will be extended to collaborating schools and institutions across the Southwest. The University of Arizona is a Hispanic Serving Institution and hosts many programs supporting diversity and inclusion of under-represented groups, many of which will benefit from training with the new instrument. The AUC will also be used in the undergraduate lab courses, where students will test hypotheses they generate for structure and function of various enzymes. In addition, a “hands-on” demonstration showing the basic principles of ultracentrifugation will be developed in the outreach course for delivery at schools throughout Arizona.Research that will be facilitated by the AUC includes the investigation of a new enzyme mechanisms involving filament formation, DNA binding by viral replicative proteins, protein-protein interactions in cell signaling, and liquid droplet formation by intrinsically disordered proteins. The AUC will facilitate a range of research projects by providing rapid and accurate assessment of ligand binding affinity, stoichiometry, and when mechanisms of inhibition involve alterations of quaternary structure. Chemical labeling (and completeness of labeling) of proteins can be detected, as well as any effects on quaternary structure, solubility, and aggregation. Aggregation is a major roadblock to many structural and functional studies, and the new AUC will be used to assess protein preparation stability and aggregation. The masses and polydispersity of lipid containing nanodiscs will be analyzed to understand the effect of chain and headgroup size, structure, and chemistry on lipid packing. Materials science research will also benefit from the analysis of nanoparticles made from tungsten, molybdenum, and titanium. Results from these studies will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific meetings, and through classes and public outreach presentations.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.