CAREER: Glycolipid Interactions In Myelin

布朗大学化学系的阿米特·巴苏（Amit Basu）教授，因其对髓磷脂中糖脂相互作用的研究而受到有机和大分子化学项目的支持。在职业规划的研究部分，糖脂之间的碳水化合物-碳水化合物相互作用被确定为探索对象。膜糖脂的碳水化合物部分之间的相互作用介导髓鞘的压实，各种癌细胞的粘附，并在某些情况下启动信号转导途径。这一建议概述了一种新的方法来详细表征碳水化合物-碳水化合物识别使用相互作用存在于髓磷脂作为一个模型系统。Basu教授将制备含碳水化合物脂质体和自组装单层作为糖脂质的细胞表面模拟物。单分子层将用于获得碳水化合物结构如何影响单分子层形态及其识别特性的信息。该项目的第二阶段将使用化学诱变来确定相关碳水化合物中的单个结合相互作用。每种类型的突变都提供了对天然结合相互作用性质的独特探测。这些突变体将被合并到单层中，并将研究它们对单层结构和识别的影响。最后，设计了详细的实验，将糖脂结构与膜形态和识别联系起来。本提案的教学部分侧重于将研究引入本科课程的方法。本课程将通过独家使用课程阅读的主要文献来介绍研究。学生将培养必要的技能来解释和批判性地评估研究文章中呈现的信息。在这样做的过程中，他们将开始识别实验方法和设计的关键特征和局限性。这将促使他们考虑可能进行的新实验。因此，在有机和大分子化学项目的支持下，布朗大学化学系的Amit Basu教授将采用一种综合的教学和研究方法，也就是说，研究方法将被纳入本科课程。

Professor Amit Basu, of the Department of Chemistry at Brown University, is supported by the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program for his studies of glycolipid interactions in myelin. In the research portion of the career plan, carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions between glycolipids are identified as the object of exploration. Interactions between the carbohydrate portions of membrane glycolipids mediate the compaction of the myelin sheath, adhesion of a variety of cancer cells, and also initiate signal transduction pathways in certain instances. This proposal outlines a new approach for detailed characterization of carbohydrate-carbohydrate recognition using the interaction present in myelin as a model system. Professor Basu will prepare carbohydrate containing liposomes as well as self-assembled monolayers as cell surface mimics of glycolipids. The monolayers will be used to obtain information about how carbohydrate structure affects monolayer morphology and its recognition properties. The second stage of the project will use chemical mutagenesis to identify individual binding interactions in the associated carbohydrates. Each type of mutation provides a unique probe of the nature of the native binding interaction. These mutants will be incorporated into monolayers and their effect on monolayer architecture and recognition will be examined. Finally, detailed experiments are designed to correlate glycolipid structure with membrane morphology and recognition.The teaching portion of this proposal focuses on methods for introducing research into the undergraduate curriculum. The class will be introduced to research through the exclusive use of the primary literature for course readings. Students will develop the skills necessary to interpret and critically evaluate information that is presented in research articles. In the course of doing so, they will begin to identify key features and limitations in experimental methods and design. This will lead them to consider new experiments that might be performed. Therefore, with the support of the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program, Professor Amit Basu, of the Department of Chemistry at the Brown University will use an integrated approach to teaching and research, that is, the methodology of research will be incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum.