Carbon Sequestration: Tracing the Source and Fate of Marine Biopolymers using Proteomics and Antibody Display Technology

溶解的生物聚合物材料的化学特性和动力学是海洋学中的一个长期问题。然而，由于先前缺乏研究溶解的生物聚合物的技术，我们才刚刚开始了解分子水平上的来源，组成和反应性。在这项研究中，来自系统生物学研究所的科学家将开发创新工具（生物传感器），用于使用高通量蛋白质组学和抗体展示技术进行生物聚合物研究。 而不是仅仅检查水解后的单个氨基酸，这消除了蛋白质的化学历史以及生物学和海洋化学之间的联系，蛋白质组学的应用，以表征两个模式浮游植物物种的分泌蛋白质组将推进我们的理解，这些化合物的组成和反应性在分子水平上。 由于分泌蛋白质组被认为是保守的，这两个生态上重要的物种的蛋白质组的知识应有助于其他浮游植物分泌蛋白质组的表征。识别并结合特定分子部分的高亲和力生物传感器（来自噬菌体的单克隆抗体）将允许在复杂异质样品中以低浓度鉴定和定量化学物质。 最终，这项技术将允许在未浓缩海水中原位跟踪浮游植物蛋白质及其生物合成、转化和降解。 就更广泛的影响而言，将直接监测浮游植物和蓝细菌释放的蛋白质与用单克隆探针追踪浮游植物和蓝细菌蛋白质相结合，应能通过了解浮游植物和蓝细菌释放的蛋白质进入整个溶解有机物库的动态和周转情况，将生物生产和消费与海洋化学联系起来。此外，这将导致更好地了解它们在全球碳循环中的作用，并将大大提高我们对海洋地球化学和海洋生态的认识。作为本研究的一部分，本科生将接触这些新技术。 PI将在当地和地区学区的科学教育活动中发挥积极作用。

ABSTRACTOCE-0452563The chemical identity and dynamics of dissolved biopolymeric material is a standing question in oceanography. However, due to a prior dearth of techniques to study dissolved biopolymers, we are only beginning to understand the source, composition and reactivity at the molecular level. In this research, scientists from the Institute of Systems Biology will develop innovative tools (biosensors) for biopolymer research using high throughput proteomics and antibody display technology. Rather than solely examining single amino acids after hydrolysis, which erases the chemical-history of the proteins and the link between biology and ocean chemistry, the application of proteomics to characterize the secretory proteome of two model phytoplankton species will advance our understanding of the composition and reactivity of these compounds at the molecular level. Because secretory proteomes are thought to be conservative, knowledge of the proteome for these two ecologically important species should aid in the characterization of other phytoplankton secretory proteomes. High affinity biosensors (monoclonal antibodies from phage) that recognize and bind to specific molecular moieties will allow the identification and quantification of chemical species at low concentrations in complex heterogeneous samples. Ultimately this technology will allow in situ tracking of phytoplankton proteins, their biosynthesis, transformation, and degradation in unconcentrated seawater. In terms of broader impacts, combining the direct monitoring of proteins released by phytoplankton and cyanobacteria and tracking of phytoplankton and cyanobacterial proteins with monoclonal probes should allow the linking of biological production and consumption to ocean chemistry through understanding the dynamics and turnover of proteins released by phytoplankton and cyanobacteria into the overall dissolved organic matter pool. Furthermore, this will lead to improved knowledge of their role in global carbon cycling and will greatly advance our knowledge of marine geochemistry and marine ecology. Undergraduate students will be exposed to these new techniques as part of this study. The PIs will play active roles in local and regional school district science educational initiatives.