U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Molecular Structure and Mechanisms of Polyene Channels

这个为期三年的奖项将支持威斯康星大学的Scott C. Hartsel和巴黎皮埃尔和玛丽居里大学生物分子物理与化学实验室的Jacques Bolard在生物物理学方面的美法合作研究。他们的研究目的是研究一组被称为多烯大环内酯的抗生素中模型离子通道的作用机制。这组包括临床上重要的两性霉素B，一个新的和不太了解的多烯组。该项目研究了两性霉素B中未知的跨膜离子通道的结构-功能关系以及细胞膜的作用。该项目将促进对溶解度、自结合、细胞反应和分子长度在通道形成机制中的作用的理解。美国研究人员来自一所本科院校，为此次合作带来了生物物理学研究方面的专业知识。这是由法国的专业知识在模型膜系统和特殊仪器的离子测量在法国实验室补充。国际合作将扩大研究者和他的本科生的研究经验，他们将受益于一位领先的法国研究人员的访问。

This three-year award will support U.S.-France cooperative research in biophysics between Scott C. Hartsel of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and Jacques Bolard of the Laboratory for Biomolecular Physics and Chemistry at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. The objective of their research is to study the mechanism(s) of action of model ion channels in a group of antibiotics called polyene macrolides. This group includes the clinically important Amphotericin B, a new and less well understood group of polyenes. The project addresses the unknown structure-function relationship of transmembrane ion channel in Amphotericin B and the role of cell membranes. The project will advance understanding on the role of solubility, self association, cellular response and length of the molecule in the mechanism of channel formation. The U.S. investigator, who is located at an undergraduate institution, brings to this collaboration expertise in biophysical studies. This is complemented by French expertise in model membrane systems and special instruments for ion measurements at the French laboratory. The international collaboration will broaden the research experience of the investigator and his undergraduate students who will benefit from the visits of a leading French researcher.