CAREER: Discovery of Tunable Fluorescent Proteins from Marine Organisms: Integrating Education and Research in the Identification and Development of Novel Fluorescent Probes

荧光蛋白在生物学中对于细胞内的标记和映射过程是极其重要的。该研究项目旨在发现和设计具有改进特性的新荧光蛋白，为荧光蛋白工具箱添加新成员。这些研究目标将为高中生、本科生和研究生提供在高度多学科和协作的环境中进行研究的机会。此外，荧光蛋白发现的兴奋将通过社区外展来教授K-12岁的学生关于蛋白质的知识，并将激励学生更多地了解STEM相关学科。这项研究的跨学科性质将需要化学，生物化学和生物物理学的知识，使其非常适合教育具有不同背景和职业目标的学生。本研究项目将进一步研究最近在首席研究员实验室发现的来自海洋鳗鱼的这组荧光蛋白的新成员。本研究旨在通过诱变来调节它们的颜色和荧光发射特性。荧光蛋白将使用包括X射线晶体学和NMR光谱学在内的技术进行表征。这项研究还将寻求通过从海洋生物中发现新的非GFP样荧光蛋白来扩大荧光蛋白的库。研究目标将被纳入巴鲁克学院目前的生物化学课程，并允许所有学生参与研究。此外，研究和教育将通过指导高中生，本科生和研究生在蛋白质的发现和表征。

Fluorescent proteins are extremely important in biology for labeling and mapping processes within the cell. This research project aims to discover and engineer new fluorescent proteins with improved properties, adding new members to the fluorescent protein toolbox. These research objectives will give high school, undergraduate, and graduate students an opportunity to conduct research in a highly multi-disciplinary and collaborative environment. In addition, the excitement of fluorescent protein discovery will be used to teach students aged K-12 through community outreach about proteins, and will inspire students to learn more about STEM related disciplines. The interdisciplinary nature of this research will require knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics making it well suited for educating students with different backgrounds and career goals.Fluorescent proteins in the fatty acid binding protein family were recently discovered in eels. This research project will further study new members of this group of fluorescent proteins from marine chlopsid eels recently discovered in the laboratory of the principal investigator. This research aims to modulate their colors and fluorescence emissions properties through mutagenesis. Fluorescent proteins will be characterized using techniques including X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. This research will also seek to expand the repertoire of fluorescent proteins by discovering new non-GFP like fluorescent proteins from marine organisms. The research objectives will be integrated into the current biochemistry curriculum at Baruch College and will allow for all students to be involved in research. In addition, the research and education will be integrated through the mentoring of high school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students in protein discovery and characterization.