Preparation and Crystallization of EF-Tu-GTP-Phe-tRNA and EF-Tu-GMP.PNP for X-Ray Diffraction Studies

蛋白延伸因子在核糖体蛋白合成中起重要作用。Jurnak博士在她的研究中使用了延伸因子复合物的生化和x射线衍射分析。她的主要目标是了解延伸周期的每个步骤的分子细节，特别关注延伸因子EF-Tu活性的结构基础。她将启动新的研究项目，直接关注大分子结晶问题本身。Jurnak博士将探索制备大量纯化复合物的可行性，并将每种复合物结晶成适合x射线衍射分析的形式。她还将学习准弹性光散射（QELS）方法；一种有助于阐明影响结晶过程的关键大分子性质的技术。这些复合物具有相当大的生物学意义。职业发展奖为她提供了开辟新的晶体学项目的机会，并展示了QELS技术在大分子结晶中的普遍适用性。

Protein elongation factors play a major role in ribosomal protein synthesis. Dr. Jurnak has used both biochemical and X-ray diffraction analyses of elongation factor complexes in her research. Her main goal is to understand the molecular details of each step of the elongation cycle with a special focus on the structural basis for the activity of elongation factor EF-Tu. She will initiate new research projects which focus directly on the macromolecular crystallization problem itself. Dr. Jurnak will explore the feasibility of preparing large quantities of the purified complexes and to crystallizing each in a form suitable for X-ray diffraction analyses. She will also learn quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) methods; a techique which will help to elucidate key macromolecular properties that affect the crystallization process. These complexes are of considerable biological interest. The Career Advancement Award offers her the opportunity to open up new crystallographic projects and to demonstrate the usefulness of the QELS technique for general applicability to macromolecular crystallization.