U.S.-Germany Cooperative Research: Dynamics of ATP-Na(+),K(+)-ATPase Interactions

这个为期一年的奖项是为美国和德国在生物化学领域的合作研究而设立的，获奖者包括北卡罗来纳州格林斯伯勒大学的Promod Pratap和德国乌尔姆大学的Uli Nienhaus。普拉塔普博士将在乌尔姆大学（University of Ulm）呆上7个月，进行底物与钠/钾atp酶（Na+/K+- atp酶）结合的实验，这是一种相当于钠泵的酶。泵将atp酶水解释放的能量与钠和钾进入细胞的运输结合在一起。它在体内受胰岛素和甲状腺激素的调节，并作为数字糖苷类药物的受体。该项目的目的是了解这种钠泵介导的运输能量需求。研究人员将研究酶和ATP之间的相互作用，并探测与ATP底物结合相关的蛋白质结构的变化。将采用两种技术；傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）和单分子荧光能量转移（FRET）。美国研究者为此次合作带来了拟议的酶系统（钠/钾atp酶）的专业知识。德国也有类似的专业知识作为补充。该项目还利用了乌尔姆大学提供的专门设备（时间分辨可见红外光谱）。对钠/钾三磷酸腺苷酶的详细分子认识将为调节细胞代谢和能量平衡提供信息。

0072563PratapThis one-year award for U.S.-Germany cooperative research in biochemistry involves Promod Pratap of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and Uli Nienhaus of the University of Ulm in Germany. Dr. Pratap will spend seven months at the University of Ulm, conducting experiments on substrate binding to sodium/potassium ATPase (Na+/K+-ATPase), an enzymatic equivalent of a sodium pump. The pump couples energy released from ATPase hydrolysis with transport of sodium and potassium into the cell. It is regulated in vivo by insulin and thyroid hormone and serves as a receptor for digital glycoside drugs. The objective of the project is to understand the energy requirements for transport mediated by this sodium pump. The investigators will examine the interaction between the enzyme and ATP and probe changes in protein structure associated with ATP substrate binding. Two techniques will be employed; fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and single-molecule fluorescence energy transfer (FRET). The U.S. investigator brings to this collaboration expertise in the proposed enzymatic system (sodium/potassium ATPase). This is complemented by similar German expertise. The project also takes advantage of specialized equipment (time-resolved visible infrared spectroscopy) available at the University of Ulm. Detailed molecular understanding of sodium/potassium ATPase will provide information about regulating cellular metabolism and energy balance.