CAREER: The influence of soil attachment on the biologic activity of extracellular proteins

1149242-Bartelt-Hunt细胞外蛋白质最近与一系列环境工程问题有关，包括朊病毒疾病的水平传播和转基因植物释放杀虫毒素。此外，越来越多地使用环境蛋白质组学需要一个更完整的了解的行为胞外蛋白在环境中。尽管如此，蛋白质和环境相关表面（如土壤矿物质）之间的相互作用仍然知之甚少，因为附着在土壤上对胞外蛋白质的生物学特性的影响也是如此。研究目的是利用一种新的分析工具来评估一种类型的细胞外蛋白与环境相关表面的相互作用，以及评估土壤附着蛋白生物功能的后续变化。该研究利用新的分析工具同时研究吸附到表面的蛋白质的数量和构象。此外，PI将进行一系列实验，以评估蛋白质与土壤的附着如何影响其生物学特性。这项研究中产生的信息将进一步了解环境在慢性消耗性疾病传播中的作用，这是一种新兴的动物疾病，目前还没有有效的治疗方法。这项研究的结果将确定细胞外蛋白质如何与土壤相互作用，并将告知一系列环境工程问题，包括朊病毒疾病传播，转基因作物释放的细胞外酶的运输，以及蛋白质在土壤矿物循环中的行为。此外，该项目将提供工程合作学习材料，可能会提高学生在工程方面的保留率，并最终建立一支更加强大和多样化的工程队伍。PI将通过内布拉斯加大学与受朊病毒疾病影响的州的推广教育工作者以及内布拉斯加州的K-12数学和科学教师分享调查结果？科学和数学专业发展暑期技术学院。PI将让本科生参与研究，并将利用内布拉斯加大学现有项目的资金，为本科生提供重要的研究活动。

1149242-Bartelt-HuntExtracellular proteins have recently been implicated in a range of environmental engineering problems including horizontal transmission of prion diseases and the release of insecticidal toxins from transgenic plants. In addition, the increasing use of environmental proteomics necessitates a more complete understanding of the behavior of extracellular proteins in the environment. Despite this, the interactions between proteins and environmentally-relevant surfaces such as soil minerals are still poorly understood as is the influence attachment to soil can have on biologic properties of extracellular proteins. The research objective is to utilize a novel analytical tool to evaluate the interaction of one type of extracellular protein with environmentally-relevant surfaces, as well as to evaluate the subsequent changes in biologic function of the soil-attached protein. The study utilizes the new analytical tool to simultaneously investigate the amount and conformation of protein adsorbed to surfaces. In addition, the PI will perform a series of experiments to evaluate how attachment of proteins to soil can influence their biologic properties. The information generated in this research will further understanding of the role of the environment in transmission of chronic wasting disease, an emerging animal disease that currently has no effective therapeutic treatments. Results from this study will identify how extracellular proteins interact with soils, and will inform a range of environmental engineering issues including prion disease transmission, transport of extracellular enzymes released from transgenic crops, and the behavior of proteins in soil mineral cycles. Further, the project will provide cooperative learning materials in engineering potentially leading to improved student retention in engineering, and ultimately, a more robust and diverse engineering workforce. The PI will share findings with extension educators in states impacted by prion diseases and with K-12 math and science teachers in the state of Nebraska through the University of Nebraska?s Science and Math Professional Development Summer Technology Institute. The PI will involve undergraduate students in research, and will leverage funding from an existing University of Nebraska program to provide significant undergraduate involvement in the research activities described here.