RUI: Investigation of the Relationship of Ferritin's Structure to Its Electron Transfer Reactions

这个无机、生物无机和有机金属化学项目的奖项支持科罗拉多大学丹佛分校化学系Donald C. Zapien教授对铁储存蛋白铁蛋白吸收和释放铁的机制的研究。蛋白质外壳对核心中铁的氧化态变化的反应方式将被确定，以及蛋白质结构的差异如何影响铁蛋白的电化学反应性。要采用的主要方法是循环伏安法的单层铁蛋白吸附在锡掺杂氧化铟电极的表面。用x射线光电子能谱测定铁还原前后核的组成变化，用免疫分析法测定蛋白质构象的变化。将对天然铁蛋白和重组铁蛋白进行研究，以阐明H链和l链亚基在铁的固存和排放方面的作用。这项研究的目的是了解铁蛋白如何发挥其功能。主要功能是在生物细胞中吸收多余的铁，储存铁，并在需要时提供铁。除了获得关于这种重要蛋白质的基本信息外，该结果还将为电化学分析等非生物学应用提供基础。本研究在一个本科院校项目，采用综合化学和生物化学的方法，为不同群体的本科生提供了一个很好的训练工具。他们将为工业就业或深造做好充分准备。

This award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program supports research on the mechanism(s) of iron uptake and release by the iron storage protein ferritin by Professor Donald C. Zapien of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Colorado-Denver. The way in which the protein shell responds to changes in oxidation state of the iron in the core will be determined, as well as how the differences in protein structure affect the electrochemical reactivity of the ferritin. The principal methodology to be employed is cyclic voltammetry of a single layer of ferritin adsorbed on the surface of a tin-doped indium oxide electrode. Changes in composition of the core before and after iron reduction will be determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and changes in protein conformation by immunoassay. Both native and recombinant ferritins will be examined in order to elucidate the role of the H and L-chain subunits with regard to iron sequestration and discharge.The goal of this research is to understand how the protein ferritin carries out its functions. The principal functions are to take up excess iron in biological cells, store the iron and supply it when needed. In addition to obtaining fundamental information on this important protein, the results will provide a basis for non-biological applications such as electrochemical assays. This Research at an Undergraduate Institution project, employing an integrated chemical and biochemical approach, provides an excellent training vehicle for a diverse group of undergraduate students. They will be well-prepared for either industrial employment or advanced study.