Japan Long-Term Visit: Detection and Properties of Transbilayer Ca 2+ -Induced Phase

该奖项将使杰拉尔德W教授。康奈尔大学的费根森 与庆应义塾大学的木下和彦教授合作， 日本横滨，为期一年。 他们将继续 膜性能的研究，受到双重- 离子钙，特别是双离子钙的作用 在融合前桥接生物膜。 实验将 在海胆卵上进行，这些卵很容易获得， 被刺激以产生待研究的过程。 低光 荧光显微镜将用于测量时间依赖性 钙离子诱导的凝胶相的形成和破坏 在膜接触区域。 本研究的目的是阐明钙的作用 离子在细胞运动、细胞分裂、新陈代谢和其他细胞中， 互动过程 虽然已知细胞质中的变化 钙离子浓度可以极大地影响这些现象， 其作用机制尚不清楚。 这项工作具有重大意义- 阳离子的有机化学反应动力学的理解。 木下博士的专业知识和他所使用的设备将是 费根森博士提议的合作。

This award will enable Prof. Gerald W. Feigenson of Cornell University to collaborate with Prof. Kazuhiko Kinoshita at Keio University in Yokohama, Japan for a period of one year. They will continue investigations of membrane properties that are influenced by doubly- ionized calcium, and in particular the role of doubly ionized calcium in bridging biomembranes prior to fusion. Experiments will be performed on sea urchin eggs, which are readily available and easily stimulated to produce the processes to be studied. Low-light fluorescence microscopy will be used to measure the time dependence of the formation and breakdown of the calcium-ion-induced gel phase at membrane contact regions. The purpose of this research is to clarify the role of the calcium ion in cell movement, cell division, metabolism, and other cell- interaction processes. While it is known that changes in cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration can greatly affect these phenomena, the mechanisms of the effects are unknown. This work has major impli- cations for the understanding of organic chemical reaction dynamics. Dr. Kinoshita's expertise and the equipment at his disposal will be assets to Dr. Feigensn's proposed collaboration.