Synthesis of Glycogen in Bacteria and Starch in Plants: Structure-Function Relationship of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase

该项目将研究ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的进化和结构，这是一种控制植物中淀粉和细菌中糖原生产的酶。这是一个有趣的案例研究，因为这种酶根据生物体的需要进化为获得不同的催化和调节作用。尽管植物和细菌之间在催化和调控方面存在差异，但似乎有一个共同的机制来触发这种调控。具体地说，这个项目将试图确定催化功能是如何沿着ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的进化树分化的，并确定激活的共同调控触发的负责区域。将使用不同的技术，包括分子克隆、诱变、计算和生化研究。对这种酶的保守和不同功能元件的表征将解释如何在一个酶家族中进化出新的角色，例如来自ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的一个。更好地了解ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸酶的功能进化可以导致对其性质的合理操纵。因此，带有修饰的ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶的转基因植物可能会改善农业上重要的作物或藻类，用于生产生物燃料。这项研究的几个方面将在社会上产生教育影响。1)培养本科生从事科学研究，学习科学伦理，这将是未来专业人员不可替代的经历，也是成为科学家的决定因素。2)培养两名研究生，他们可能成为未来的科学家或教师。考虑到在科学界有几个代表性不足的少数民族和在芝加哥洛约拉大学化学系学习的妇女，这一项目很可能将造福于代表性不足的人群。3)将在圣达菲(阿根廷)和芝加哥(美国)举办国际讲习班，以加强美国研究生和/或高级本科生的研究教育。4)Loyola科学和数学教育中心的教职员工将根据这项拟议的研究范围，合作为高中教师开发示范课程。

The project will study the evolution and structure of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases, which are the enzymes that control the production of starch in plants and glycogen in bacteria. This is an interesting case study because this enzyme evolved to acquire different catalytic and regulatory roles according to the necessities of the organism. Despite the divergence in catalysis and regulation between plant and bacterial forms, it seems that there is a common mechanism to trigger the regulation. Specifically, this project will try to identify how catalytic function has diverged along the evolutionary tree of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases and identify the responsible regions for the common regulatory trigger for activation. Different techniques will be used, including molecular cloning, mutagenesis, computational and biochemical studies. The characterization of conserved and divergent functional elements of this enzyme will explain how new roles can evolve in an enzyme family such as the one from ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases.Broader impactsA better understanding of the functional evolution of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase could lead to a rational manipulation of their properties. Consequently, transgenic plants with modified ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases may improve agriculturally important crops or algae for biofuel production. Several aspects of the research will have an educational impact in the society. 1) Undergraduate students will be trained to perform research and learn the ethic of science, which will be an irreplaceable experience for a future professional, or a deciding factor to become a scientist. 2) Two graduate students will be trained, who will possibly become either a future scientist or teacher. Considering that there are several underrepresented minorities in science and women studying in the Department of Chemistry at Loyola University Chicago, it is likely that this project will benefit an underrepresented fragment of the population. 3) International workshops will be organized in Santa Fe (Argentina) and Chicago (USA) to enhance the research education of American graduate and/or senior undergraduate students. 4) Faculty and staff of Loyola's Center for Science and Math Education will collaborate to develop model lessons for high school teachers based on the scope of this proposed research.