Instrumentation Systems for Microbial "Omics": Discovery and Quantitation of Biomolecules and Natural Substrates

该合同支持购买：(1)实时聚合酶链式反应仪器，(2)微阵列探测器和扫描仪系统，(3)实验室规模的发酵设备，(4)毛细管电泳仪和(5)高压生物分子分离设备。利用该仪器的研究计划的目标是表征生物分子(蛋白质、质粒)、天然底物(金属氧化物)以及来自不同水生和陆地环境的微生物种群。研究人员还将通过检测底物(即金属络合物、有机代谢物)来研究化学形态在微生物过程中的作用，这些底物可能调节底物利用、生物分子产生和细菌生长的机制。该仪器的使用者代表来自两个不同的佐治亚理工学院学院(理学院和工程学院)的教师，他们来自生物学院，以及土木工程和环境工程系以及地球和大气科学系。不同用户群体之间的预期互动将为新一代科学家提供基础，使他们能够跨研究学科进行有效沟通。此外，该奖项将允许私人投资机构培训和指导不同的学生和研究人员群体，包括那些在科学界传统上代表性不足的学生和研究人员。

This award provides support for the purchase of: (1) real-time PCR instrumentation, (2) a micro-array spotter and scanner system, (3) lab-scale fermentation equipment, (4) capillary electrophoresis equipment and, (5) high-pressure biomolecule separation equipment. The goals of the research programs that will utilize the instrumentation are to characterize biomolecules (proteins, plasmids), natural substrates (metal oxides), and microbial populations from diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments. The researchers will also investigate the role of chemical speciation on microbial processes by detecting substrates (i.e., metal complexes, organic metabolites) that may regulate the mechanisms of substrate utilization, biomolecule production, and bacterial growth. The users of the instrumentation represent faculty from two different Georgia Institute of Technology colleges (College of Science and the College of Engineering) from the School of Biology, and Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. The anticipated interactions between the various user groups will provide the basis for a new generation of scientists with the ability to communicate effectively across research disciplines. In addition, this award will allow the PIs to train and mentor a diverse group of students and researchers including those traditionally underrepresented in science.