CAREER: Mechanistic Studies of the Alkanesulfonate Monooxygenase System

某些土壤细菌将利用环境中的脂肪族磺酸盐，以获得硫酸盐，如果标准来源不可用。该过程中涉及的酶系统由黄素还原酶（SsuE）组成，该酶参与向直接参与脱磺酸反应的单加氧酶（SsuD）提供还原的黄素。这个迷人的酶系统属于越来越多的双组分酶系统，利用黄素作为底物，而不是结合辅基。这些系统包括参与除草剂降解、抗生素合成、污染物脱硫和生物发光的蛋白质。这些研究的主要目的是阐明链烷磺酸单加氧酶系统的机制。本研究的主要目标集中在该酶系统的两个非常有趣的特征：1）C-S键断裂的机制SsuD 2）SsuE和SsuD之间的减少黄素转移机制。从这些研究中获得的结果与其他黄素转移系统的烷基磺酸单加氧酶蛋白质将提高我们的知识的一个家庭的酶具有高度多样化的功能。 这个项目的教育目标是通过将生物化学实验引入现有的课程来加强奥本运动科学项目。 科学运动计划是由亚拉巴马州议会建立的，目的是将技术先进的实验室实验带到当地的高中教室。 教育部分将通过三个不同的活动来实施：1.实验发展2.研究生外展3.直接培训高中教师。这一项目的影响将影响到各级学生，并向代表性不足的群体和经济困难学区的学生介绍创新实验，这可以提高学生对科学的兴趣，并影响他们未来的教育决定。

Certain soil bacteria will utilize aliphatic sulfonates in the environment to obtain sulfate if standard sources are not available. The enzyme system involved in this process is comprised of a flavin-reductase (SsuE) involved in providing reduced flavin to the monooxygenase enzyme (SsuD) that is directly involved in the desulfonation reaction. This fascinating enzyme system belongs to an increasing number of two-component enzyme systems that utilize flavin as a substrate rather than a bound prosthetic group. These systems include proteins involved in the degradation of herbicides, the synthesis of antibiotics, desulfurization of pollutants, and bioluminescence. The broad objective of these studies is to elucidate the mechanism of the alkanesulfonate monooxygenase system. The primary goal of this research focuses on two highly interesting features of this enzyme system: 1) the mechanism of C-S bond cleavage by SsuD 2) the reduced flavin transfer mechanism between SsuE and SsuD. Relating the results obtained from these studies of the alkanesulfonate monooxygenase proteins to other flavin transfer systems will enhance our knowledge of a family of enzymes with highly diverse functions. The educational goal of this project is to enhance the Auburn Science in Motion program by introducing biochemical experiments to the existing curriculum. The Science in Motion program was established by the Alabama State Legislature to bring technologically advanced laboratory experiments to local high school classrooms. The educational component will be implemented through three distinct activities: 1. experimental development 2. graduate student outreach 3. direct training to high school educators. The impact of this project will affect students from all levels and introduce those students from underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged school districts to innovative experiments, which can increase student interest in science and influence their future educational decisions.