U.S.-India Cooperative Research: Molecular Mechanism of Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin (VHb) Function : Identification and Characterization of Cellular Partner(s) of VHb (s)

该奖项支持印度和美国在分子生物化学方面的合作研究。其标题是：玻璃体振荡菌血红蛋白（VHb）功能的分子机制：VHb细胞伴侣的鉴定和表征。芝加哥伊利诺伊理工学院的Benjamin Stark教授和Dale Webster教授将与昌迪加尔微生物技术研究所高级科学家Kanak Dikshit教授合作。血红蛋白是必需的携氧蛋白，微生物血红蛋白对某些生物体的最佳生长至关重要。玻璃体颤菌血红蛋白已被用于基因工程，它已经改善了生物体获取和利用氧气的能力，并增强了它们降解某些有毒化学物质的能力。研究人员将进行实验，以表征和了解玻璃震菌的“血红蛋白”的生化功能，以及当通过基因工程将其引入无血红蛋白的细菌时，它如何改变其新宿主代谢的生化途径。研究范围：本研究具有重要的科学和实用价值，有助于基础知识的发展。更深入地了解VHb促进细胞生长的机制，将有助于推进VHb的使用已被发现有益的技术。其中最主要的是美国PIs在加强细菌降解芳香族化合物（包括那些有环境污染物的芳香族化合物）方面的工作。此次合作将利用两组研究人员的互补专业知识（美国方面研究蛋白质的生物化学和物理化学，印度方面研究重组DNA技术）。研究人员已经建立了合作关系，并取得了成功。这项研究和科学家交流将对双方的研究生和本科生都有利

0422555Stark Description: This award supports cooperative research in molecular biochemistry between India and the U.S. Its title is: Molecular Mechanism of Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin (VHb) Function: Identification and Characterization of Cellular Partners of VHbs. Professors Benjamin Stark and Dale Webster, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago will collaborate with Professor Kanak Dikshit, Senior Scientist, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh. Hemoglobins are essential oxygen carrying proteins and microbial hemoglobins are important for optimal growth of certain organisms. Vitreoscilla hemoglobin, which has been used in genetic engineering, has resulted in the improved ability of organisms to acquire and utilize oxygen, and has enhanced their abilities to degrade certain toxic chemicals. The investigators will perform experiments to characterize and obtain understanding on the biochemical function of the "hemoglobin" of the bacterium Vitreoscilla and how, when introduced into a hemoglobin-less bacterium by genetic engineering, it changes the biochemical pathways of its new host's metabolism. Scope: This research is of great scientific and practical value and will contribute to fundamental knowledge. Greater understanding of the mechanisms by which VHb enhances cell growth will help advance technologies in which the use of VHb has been found to be beneficial. Chief among these is the US PIs work on enhancing bacterial degradation of aromatic compounds including those, which have environmental contaminants. The collaboration will exploit the complementary expertise of the two groups of investigators (biochemistry and physical chemistry of proteins on the US side and recombinant DNA technology on the Indian side). The researchers have an established collaboration and have worked successfully. This research and exchange of scientists will be mutually beneficial for graduate and undergraduate students at both institutions