CAREER: Supramolecular Light-Harvesting Materials from Self-Assembly of Bio-Inspired Macromolecules

ID：MPS/dmr/bmat(7623)1149067 PI：Horne，William ORG：匹兹堡大学标题：Career：来自生物大分子自组装的超分子捕光材料电子优点：设计模拟参与光合作用的蛋白质执行功能的化学物种是材料科学的前沿挑战。这一挑战背后的要求是在10-100纳米尺度上创建定义的分子实体，以亚纳米空间精度精确定位官能团阵列。有一种设计范式的需求尚未得到满足，它结合了(1)提供共价键-逐键化学合成的完整结构控制，以及(2)通过非共价自组装实现的效率和大结构。该项目的总体目标是开发一个平台，用于构建基于蛋白质构建块在水溶液中自组装的具有可调性能的超分子生物材料。将用于指导单体自组装的蛋白质折叠基序是阿尔法螺旋螺旋线圈。先前对序列和折叠模式之间关系的研究已经使人们对螺旋卷曲蛋白质设计的基本原理有了透彻的理解。这一丰富的知识库将被用来创建一个亚单位家族，这些亚单位自组装形成定义的一维线性阵列或二维网络。这些材料将被应用于模拟天然光合蛋白的天线功能的捕光发色团阵列的制备。在这项研究过程中阐明的基本原理将成为设计和构建基于蛋白质的超分子组件的一般策略的基础。此外，捕光材料将为研究和模拟生物天线阵列中的能量离域提供一个模型系统。发展可持续的清洁能源供应是21世纪人类面临的最重大的科学挑战之一。对于这项艰巨的任务，没有简单的技术解决方案；然而，拟议的研究试图帮助定义此类技术所依赖的物理化学原理。作为该项目最终目标的捕光材料的开发将提高对自然界中光合作用能量传递的理解，以及有效地模拟具有设计的化学物种的光合作用蛋白质的要求。跨学科研究计划将为不同层次和不同教育背景的学生提供肥沃的培训场地。其中包括一项教育和推广计划，旨在让积极从事研究的本科生参加一个旨在教授科学成果有效口头交流的课程。这门课程将通过有组织的机会为已注册的学生提供向同龄人以及当地社区的高中生展示他们的作品的机会，促进外展。拟议的计划将(1)通过解决现有课程中未得到满足的需求来提高匹兹堡大学STEM本科生的竞争力，以及(2)通过使参与计划的学生能够成为从事本科科学研究机会的近乎同行的榜样，吸引未来潜在的STEM专业学生，包括代表不足的少数族裔。

ID: MPS/DMR/BMAT(7623) 1149067 PI: Horne, William ORG: University of PIttsburghTitle: CAREER: Supramolecular Light-Harvesting Materials from Self-Assembly of Bio-Inspired MacromoleculesINTELLECTUAL MERIT: The design of chemical species that mimic functions carried out by proteins involved in photosynthesis is a frontier challenge in materials science. Underlying this challenge is the requirement to create defined molecular entities on the 10-100 nm size scale that accurately position arrays of functional groups with sub-nm spatial precision. There is an unmet need for a design paradigm that combines (1) the complete structural control offered covalent bond-by-bond chemical synthesis with (2) the efficiency and large structures achievable by non-covalent self-assembly. The overall objective of this project is to develop a platform for the construction of supramolecular biomaterials with tunable properties based on the self-assembly of protein-based building blocks in aqueous solution. The protein-folding motif that will be used to direct monomer self-assembly is the alpha-helical coiled coil. Prior studies on the relationship between sequence and folding pattern have led to a thorough understanding of the basic principles for the design of coiled-coil proteins. This rich knowledge base will be exploited to create a family of subunits that self-assemble to form defined 1-dimensional linear arrays or 2-dimensional networks. These materials will be applied in the preparation of light-harvesting chromophore arrays that mimic the antenna function of natural photosynthetic proteins. The fundamental principles elucidated in the course of this research will be the foundation of a general strategy for the design and construction of protein-based supramolecular assemblies. Moreover, the light-harvesting materials will provide a model system for the study and mimicry of energy delocalization in biological antenna arrays.BROADER IMPACTS: The problem addressed in this project has important societal implications. The development of a sustainable supply of clean energy is one of the most significant scientific challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. There is no simple technological solution to this daunting task; however, the research proposed seeks to help define physicochemical principles upon which such technology will rely. Development of the light-harvesting materials that are the ultimate goal of this project will improve understanding of photosynthetic energy transduction in nature and the requirements to effectively mimic photosynthetic proteins with designed chemical species. The interdisciplinary research program will provide a fertile training ground for students at multiple levels and from diverse educational backgrounds. An education and outreach plan is included that aims to engage research-active undergraduates with a class aimed at teaching the effective oral communication of scientific results. The course will foster outreach through organized opportunities for enrolled students to present their work to peers as well as to high-school students from the local community. The proposed program will (1) enhance the competitiveness of STEM undergraduates at the University of Pittsburgh by addressing an unmet need in the existing curriculum and (2) engage potential future STEM majors, including underrepresented minorities, by enabling participating students to act as near-peer role models for opportunities to pursue undergraduate scientific research.