Structural and morphological characterization of ceramide-1-phosphate model membranes

在该奖项中，由化学部和国际科学与工程办公室的实验物理化学计划资助，来自州立大学的肯特教授阿恩Gericke和他的研究生和本科生同事将研究神经酰胺-1-磷酸模型膜系统的物理化学行为。 这项研究与德国研究共同体（DFG）资助的合作奖相协调，该合作奖授予马克斯普朗克胶体和界面研究所的Gerald Brezesinski博士。 这些模型膜系统的物理化学性质将被研究作为一个功能的一些环境因素：盐浓度，二价阳离子的存在下，和其他脂质的存在和性质。 将使用的表征工具是广泛的，包括固态NMR，X射线散射，红外光谱，FRET和一套微观和热力学测量。 这些研究的最终目标是更多地了解神经酰胺-1-磷酸的理化性质如何与多种不同的生理功能联系在一起。脂质分子层包围所有细胞的内容物。 科学家们越来越多地了解到，这些层是动态的，结构化的和内在复杂的实体。 支持Gericke教授及其同事的研究旨在了解基本分子特性如何成为生物系统更广泛的复杂特性。 这项研究是在物理和生命科学的交叉点，并在这些项目工作的学生将获得优秀的跨学科研究培训。 此外，从事这些项目的学生将在国际环境中进行研究。

In this award, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division and the Office of International Science and Engineering, Prof. Arne Gericke from Kent State University and his graduate and undergraduate student colleagues will investigate the physicochemical behavior of ceramide-1-phosphate model membrane systems. This research coordinates with a collaborative award funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) to Dr. Gerald Brezesinski from the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces. The physicochemical properties of these model membrane systems will be studied as a function of a number of environmental factors: salt concentration, presence of divalent cations, and the presence and nature of other lipids. The characterization tools that will be used are extensive, and include solid state NMR, X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy, FRET and a suite of microscopic and thermodynamic measurements. The ultimate goal of these studies is to learn more of how the physicochemical properties of ceramide-1-phosphate are linked to a broad number of diverse physiological functions. Lipid molecule layers enclose the contents of all cells. Scientists are increasingly learning that these layers are dynamic, structured and inherently complex entities. Studies like the ones supporting Prof. Gericke and his colleagues are aimed at developing an understanding of how fundamental molecular properties emerge into broader kinds of complex properties of biological systems. This research is at the intersection of the physical and life sciences, and the students working on these projects will receive outstanding interdisciplinary research training. In addition, students working on these projects will be exposed to research in an international setting.