Cooperativity Driven Communication through Noncovalent Networks in Biomimetic Systems

仿生系统中通过非共价网络的协作驱动通信

• 批准号: 2404149
• 负责人: Marcey Waters
• 金额: $ 53万
• 依托单位: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-07-01 至 2027-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2404149&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Cooperativity; Driven; Communication; through; Noncovalent

With the support of the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Marcey Waters of the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill will develop new biomimetic model systems that imitate the complex behavior of proteins. This research aims to determine the molecular features that are necessary to create new stimulus-responsive molecules that mimic protein function, including molecular on-off switches for capturing/releasing other molecules, as well as self-assembly into nanospheres and nanofibers. This research seeks to provide better insight into protein function and provide guidelines for how to design new biomimetic "smart" materials. The broader impacts of this work will include interdisciplinary training for the students working on the project, as well as an outreach program to minority serving institutions that are part of the UNC system to build a network within North Carolina to promote pursuit of higher degrees in chemistry.Many proteins exhibit stimulus responsive behavior, as in allostery, conformational signaling, signal transduction, and complex protein assembly. These behaviors are accomplished via communication through a noncovalent network, but the molecular mechanisms of such communication are poorly understood. This research aims to provide fundamental insights into the design rules for biomimetic self-assembly and signal transduction, including their molecular and energetic requirements, as well as the role of both positive and negative cooperativity. Specifically, the Waters group will investigate the sequence-structure-assembly relationships in self-assembling coiled coil nanospheres and fibrils. An artificial signaling cascade will be developed for evaluation of the contribution of frustration in long-distance structural reorganization and responsive behavior of foldamers.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.

在化学系中的大分子，超分子和纳米化学（MSN）计划的支持下，教堂山北卡罗来纳大学（UNC）的玛西·沃特斯教授将开发新的仿生模型系统，以模仿蛋白质的复杂行为。这项研究旨在确定创建新的刺激反应性分子所必需的分子特征，这些分子模仿蛋白质功能，包括用于捕获/释放其他分子的分子开关开关，以及自组装到纳米球和纳米纤维中。这项研究旨在更好地了解蛋白质功能，并为如何设计新的仿生“智能”材料提供指南。这项工作的更广泛影响将包括对从事该项目的学生的跨学科培训，以及向少数群体服务机构进行外展计划，这些机构是UNC系统的一部分，旨在在北卡罗来纳州建立网络，以促进化学中的更高程度的追求。许多蛋白质蛋白质的刺激性反应性，表现出构型，构型信号，信号式，信号式构成蛋白质，以及复杂的蛋白质。这些行为是通过通过非共价网络通信来实现的，但是这种交流的分子机制知之甚少。这项研究旨在为仿生自我组装和信号转导的设计规则提供基本见解，包括它们的分子和能量性要求，以及正面和负合作的作用。具体而言，沃特斯组将研究自组装盘绕的卷纳米球和原纤维中的序列结构组装关系。将开发一个人工信号级联，以评估挫败感在长距离结构重组和fordamers的响应行为中的贡献。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响标准通过评估来获得支持。