Understanding mechanisms of biological transport and signaling for nanotechnology applications.

了解纳米技术应用的生物运输和信号传导机制。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-06591
• 负责人: Zilman, Anton
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=633285
• 关键词: Understanding; mechanisms; biological; transport; signaling

Functioning of living cells depends on selective transport of molecules into and out of the cell, as well as between different cellular compartments. Nature has evolved nano-scale molecular “machines” for this controlled transport that combine exquisite selectivity, sensitivity and throughput with high resilience with respect to structural damage and environmental noise. These "nano-machines" are involved in numerous regulatory and disease processes in the cell, and are attractive targets for new drugs. Examples include the Nuclear Pore Complex, secretion systems in bacteria, mitochondrial channels and others. The exquisite selectivity and robustness of such biological transporters inspire design of technologically cutting edge artificial nano-molecular sorting devices. Transport mechanisms of many of such "nano-machines" are still subject to intense scientific debate but their dynamics are hard to directly access experimentally on the relevant time and length scales. Consequently, theoretical modeling has been increasingly playing a central role in addressing the fundamental questions as well as the development of nano-technological applications.

活细胞的功能取决于分子进出细胞以及不同细胞区室之间的选择性运输。大自然已经进化出纳米级的分子“机器”，用于这种受控的运输，其结合了联合收割机精致的选择性、灵敏度和通量，以及相对于结构损伤和环境噪声的高弹性。 这些“纳米机器”参与了细胞中的许多调节和疾病过程，并且是新药的有吸引力的靶点。例子包括核孔复合体、细菌中的分泌系统、线粒体通道等。这种生物转运蛋白的精致选择性和鲁棒性激发了技术前沿人工纳米分子分选装置的设计。 许多此类“纳米机器”的传输机制仍然存在激烈的科学争论，但它们的动力学很难在相关时间和长度尺度上通过实验直接获得。因此，理论建模已越来越多地发挥核心作用，在解决的基本问题，以及纳米技术应用的发展。