Structural and functional investigations of novel kinesin assemblies: deciphering intersubunit communication in asymmetric motors

新型驱动蛋白组件的结构和功能研究：破译不对称电机中的亚基间通信

• 批准号: 356025-2008
• 负责人: Allingham, John
• 金额: $ 2.7万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=498146
• 关键词: Structural; functional; investigations; novel; kinesin

A defining characteristic of life is movement. From our ability to walk down the street, to the distribution of individual molecules within our cells, movement is a basic necessity and tiny protein machines known as "motor proteins" power most forms of it. One of the best-known families of motor proteins are kinesins. These motors convert the energy released from breaking chemical bonds in high-energy molecules like ATP into mechanical force in order to move along protein tracks in cells. In the process, they transport various cargoes to their required destinations in the cell. Recent efforts in nanotechnology development have focused on kinesins and other motor proteins as a source of inspiration for building and powering nanoscale devices. A major goal of Dr. Allingham's research is to understand the aspects of kinesin motor design that confer their motile properties in order to facilitate rapid development in this area. The specific focus of studies currently underway in Dr. Allingham's laboratory involve deciphering the mechanism by which novel forms of kinesin from a variety of different organisms are able to coordinate the conversion of chemical energy into controlled movement. By determining the three-dimensional structures of these kinesins, observing their movement, and studying the effects of mutations on these parameters, Dr. Allingham's group hopes to gain insight into this mechanism, which could revolutionize our understanding of how motors carry out their various vital functions in cells and how these functions are regulated at different times and in different cell types. Such studies will also provide opportunities for graduate students to obtain multidisciplinary training in advanced research methods and allow them to make significant contributions to our understanding fundamental scientific questions.

生命的一个决定性特征是运动。从我们在街上行走的能力，到细胞内单个分子的分布，运动是一种基本必需品，而被称为“运动蛋白”的微小蛋白质机器为大多数形式的运动提供动力。最著名的运动蛋白家族之一是驱动蛋白。这些马达将 ATP 等高能分子中化学键断裂所释放的能量转化为机械力，以便沿着细胞中的蛋白质轨道移动。在此过程中，他们将各种货物运输到细胞内所需的目的地。最近纳米技术开发的重点是驱动蛋白和其他运动蛋白，作为构建和驱动纳米级设备的灵感来源。 Allingham 博士研究的一个主要目标是了解驱动蛋白运动设计的各个方面，这些设计赋予其运动特性，以促进该领域的快速发展。阿林厄姆博士实验室目前正在进行的研究的具体重点是破译来自各种不同生物体的新型驱动蛋白能够协调化学能转化为受控运动的机制。通过确定这些驱动蛋白的三维结构，观察它们的运动，并研究突变对这些参数的影响，Allingham 博士的研究小组希望深入了解这一机制，这可能会彻底改变我们对马达如何在细胞中执行各种重要功能以及这些功能如何在不同时间和不同细胞类型中进行调节的理解。此类研究还将为研究生提供获得先进研究方法的多学科培训的机会，并使他们能够为我们理解基本科学问题做出重大贡献。