Controlling the Dynamics of a Model Filamentous Biopolymer

该奖项由材料研究部生物材料项目颁发，由细胞过程项目（BIO/MCB）共同资助。本研究项目的目标是了解稳定和不稳定因素如何调节模型生物聚合物的动力学。微管网络的调节对细胞内组织过程至关重要。微管相关蛋白和酶控制单个微管活性的长度和动态，从而控制网络。该项目将研究来自微管切断酶家族的不稳定酶，这是一组重要的调节剂，可以沿着长度切割微管的任何地方并引起解聚。此外，微管稳定剂的能力，如MAP4和tau，以及它们单独稳定微管和拮抗切断酶活性的能力也将被研究。利用多色全内反射荧光成像系统，将研究微管在荧光标记的辅助蛋白存在下的动态不稳定性。通过这个项目，研究生和本科生都将在生命科学和物理科学的界面上得到训练。这种跨学科的培训对他们未来的工业和学术生涯的准备非常重要。学院在成功招收和教育来自不同背景的学生方面建立了良好的记录。招募和培训代表性不足的少数民族学生将是计划的外联活动的重点。这些基础科学研究的目标是了解细胞如何控制微管的长度、生长和收缩。微管是几乎存在于所有细胞中的细丝。它们支持细胞的结构，并将它们排列成细胞范围内的网络，这对组织细胞内部非常重要。为了了解微管是如何在细胞内部组织的，我们必须了解微管本身的长度、生长和收缩是如何被控制的。实验将在使用专门的显微镜观察其他蛋白质存在的情况下逐一观察单个微管。这些其他蛋白质可以切割微管或保护它们。这个项目是为了了解调节微管长度、生长和收缩的破坏性和建设性蛋白质的确切机制。本研究将使用荧光显微镜的多色单微管成像来检查微管活性的动力学。作为教学和培训的一部分，研究生和本科生将在物理科学和生命科学的界面上接受生物物理学的培训。生物物理学是一个重要的跨学科领域，需要在许多工业和学术事业。作为该项目的一部分，研究人员将招募代表性不足的学生，并对他们进行研究活动方面的培训。

This award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research is cofunded by the Cellular Processes program (BIO/MCB). The goal of this research project is to understand how stabilizing and destabilizing factors can tune the dynamics of a model biopolymer. Regulation of the microtubule network is essential to the process of intracellular organization. Microtubule-associated proteins and enzymes control the length and dynamics of single microtubule activity, and thus the network. This project will examine destabilizing enzymes from the microtubule severing enzyme family that is an important group of regulators that can cut microtubules anywhere along the length and cause depolymerization. Additionally, the ability of microtubule stabilizers, such as MAP4 and tau, and their ability to stabilize microtubules alone and to antagonize the activity of severing enzymes also will be studied. Using multi-color total internal reflection fluorescence imaging system, microtubules performing dynamic instability in the presence of fluorescently-labeled accessory proteins will be studied. With this project, both graduate and undergraduate students will be trained at the interface of life sciences and physical sciences. This interdisciplinary training would be very important to prepare them for future industrial and academic careers. The PI has established a strong track record in successfully recruiting and educating students from diverse backgrounds. Recruiting and training of under-represented minority students will be the focus of the planned outreach activities.The goal of these fundamental scientific studies is to understand how the cell controls the length, growth, and shrinkage of microtubules. Microtubules are filaments found in almost all cells. They support the structure of the cell, and their arrangement into a cell-wide network that is important to organize the inside of cells. In order to understand how microtubules organize the inside of the cell, one must understand how the length, growth, and shrinkage of microtubules themselves are controlled. Experiments will be performed where individual microtubules one-at-a-time will be observed in the presence of other proteins using a specialized microscope. These other proteins could either cut microtubules or protect them. This project is to understand the exact mechanism of tuning on the destructive and constructive proteins that regulate the length, growth, and shrinkage of microtubule. This research will use multi-color single-microtubule imaging by fluorescence microscopy to examine the dynamics of microtubule activity. As part of teaching and training, graduate and undergraduates students will be trained in biological physics at the interface between the physical sciences and life sciences. Biological physics is an important interdisciplinary field that is needed in many industrial and academic careers. As part of this project, underrepresented students will be recruited and trained in the research activities of the investigator.