Multiscale investigation of biomolecular force transduction

通过这一奖项，生命过程化学项目支持伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校的黛博拉·莱克班德教授的研究。莱克班德教授的研究解决了使细胞能够感知并在组织中的细胞之间传播机械信息的基本分子机制。所有多细胞生物的细胞都是由分子“魔术贴”连接在一起的，钙粘附素是其主要的蛋白质成分。一种与钙粘附素相关的蛋白质，α-连环素被认为是一个生物分子力传感器，它激活分子信号过程，其比例与施加在细胞表面钙粘附素键上的机械力成比例。在这一角色中，α-连环蛋白起着纳米机器的作用，将机械力转化为生化信号，以调节细胞功能。莱克班德教授的计划将使用表面等离子体共振和单分子原子力显微镜(AFM)等技术来研究α-连环蛋白感知机械力的机制。由于α-连环蛋白代表了更广泛类别的支架蛋白，控制细胞的机械化学动态平衡，这项工作的更广泛的科学影响可能是相当深远的。同样重要的是，该项目将通过伊利诺伊大学的外展活动吸引对科学和工程感兴趣的中学女孩。它还将为本科生和研究生提供教育和多学科培训机会。通过这种方式，莱克班德教授渴望激发年轻科学家的好奇心，加深他们对科学的热情和承诺。

With this award, the Chemistry of Life Processes program is supporting the research of Professor Deborah Leckband of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Professor Leckband's research addresses the fundamental molecular mechanisms that enable cells to sense and propagate mechanical information between cells in tissues. The cells of all multicellular organisms are held together by molecular "Velcro", and cadherins are the principal protein components thereof. A protein, alpha-catenin, which is associated with cadherins is thought to act as a biomolecular force sensor, which activates molecular signaling processes in proportion to mechanical forces exerted on cadherin bonds at the cell surface. In this role, alpha-catenin functions as a nanomachine that converts mechanical force into biochemical signals, in order to regulate cell functions. Professor Leckband's program will investigate the mechanism by which alpha-catenin senses mechanical force using techniques including surface plasmon resonance and single molecule AFM (atomic force microscopy).Because alpha-catenin is representative of a broader class of scaffolding proteins that control the mechano-chemical homeostasis of cells, the broader scientific impact of the work may be quite far-reaching. As important, this program will engage middle school girls interested in science and engineering through outreach activities at the University of Illinois. It will also provide education and multi-disciplinary training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. In this way, Prof. Leckband aspires to spark young scientists' curiosity and deepen their passion for and commitment to science.