U.S.-Netherlands Cooperative Research: Biophysical and Genetic Studies of Flavoprotein Peroxide and Disulfide Reductases

该奖项支持来自维克森林大学的博士后Alexander Claiborne教授和一名研究生与荷兰瓦赫宁根农业大学生物化学系的三个互补研究小组合作。他们将利用最先进的核磁共振（NMR）和时间分辨荧光技术，对来自链球菌的几种黄蛋白进行生物物理和结构研究。他们还将进行实验，以了解两种相关的脂酰胺脱氢酶的结构和遗传学。这个美国小组在这个医学相关系统中开发了丰富的酶工作经验。荷兰研究人员在生物物理和遗传方法研究黄素蛋白结构和功能方面拥有丰富的专业知识和一流的设备。维克森林集团拥有优秀的配套设施，但他们将从免费使用瓦赫宁根的高场核磁共振设备中获得特别的好处。与荷兰乳制品研究所的进一步互动将加强对链球菌氧化代谢的遗传学和生理学的理解。链球菌对白细胞介导的细菌吞噬具有独特的防御作用，这种作用依赖于过氧化氢的破坏。克莱本博士和他的团队正在研究的氢化酶和过氧化物酶控制着这种防御。与这些荷兰专家进行的初步研究和实质性的预先规划为这一重要系统的合作研究奠定了有希望的基础。荷兰的参与者积极参与了由欧盟支持的两个欧洲科学网络。他们的美国合作者也将受益于与其他欧洲专家的联系。＊＊＊

9400123 Claiborne This award supports Professor Alexander Claiborne, a postdoctoral associate, and a graduate student, all from Wake Forest University, to collaborate with three complementary research groups in the Department of Biochemistry at Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands. They will carry out biophysical and structural studies on several flavoproteins from Streptococcus bacteria, using state of the art nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and time resolved fluorescence techniques. They will also carry out experiments to gain understanding of the structure and genetics of two related lipoamide dehydrogenases. The U.S. group has developed extensive experience working with the enzymes in this medically relevant system. The Dutch investigators have great expertise and superb facilities for biophysical and genetic approaches to studying flavoprotein structure and function. The Wake Forest group has excellent complementary facilities, but they will obtain particular benefit from free access to the high field NMR equipment at Wageningen. Additional interaction with the Netherlands Institute for Dairy Research will strengthen the understanding of the genetics and physiology of streptococcal oxidative metabolism. Streptococcus has a unique defence against the leukocyte- mediated phagocytosis of bacteria, which is dependent upon destruction of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogenase and peroxidase enzymes being studied by Dr. Claiborne and his group control that defence. Preliminary studies and substantial advance planning with these Dutch experts have laid a promising foundation for collaborative research on this important system. The Dutch participants are heavily involved in two European scientific networks supported by the European Union. Their U.S. collaborators will also benefit from links with these other European experts. ***