LEAPS-MPS: Peroxisome Targeting Chemical Technologies and Tools to Study Subcellular Chemistry

该奖项全部或部分根据2021年美国救援计划法案（公法117-2）资助。在这个项目中，贝克教授和他在东伊利诺伊大学（EIU）的学生打算开发化学基团，可以直接附着分子的过氧化物酶体，一个未充分研究的细胞区域，在各种细胞过程中具有重要作用。该项目开发的新化学方法和工具有可能详细研究活细胞过氧化物酶体中发生的生化反应。该项目的成功实施还将通过为学生提供有偿研究机会和加强EIU STEM（iSTEM）计划的包容性，扩大STEM领域代表性不足的学生的参与。iSTEM项目旨在为这些学生提供更多与潜在榜样和导师互动的机会。Beck教授和他的团队打算调整过氧化物酶体靶向肽序列，以开发能够将悬垂小分子货物靶向过氧化物酶体的模块化部分。这项研究的成功实施将导致过氧化物酶体相互作用部分（PIM）的表征。性质包括细胞渗透性、过氧化物酶体输入机制的关键组分的相互作用以及将先前非靶向化合物引导至过氧化物酶体的能力。然后，PIM将用于产生荧光探针，以监测过氧化物酶体中的过氧化氢产生。该项目的预期成果是帮助学生发展他们在未来的STEM学习和/或职业生涯中取得成功所需的联系和技能，同时做出重大的科学贡献。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). In this project, Professor Beck and his students at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) intend to develop chemical groups that can direct attached molecules to the peroxisomes, an understudied region of cells that has an important role in a variety of cellular processes. The new chemical approaches and tools developed in this project have the potential to enable detailed study of the biochemical reactions that take place in the peroxisomes of living cells. Successful implementation of this project will also broaden participation of students underrepresented in STEM fields by providing paid research opportunities for students and strengthening the Inclusiveness in STEM (iSTEM) program at EIU. The iSTEM program is designed to provide these students more opportunities to interact with potential role models and mentors.Prof. Beck and his team intend to adapt peroxisome targeting peptide sequences to develop modular moieties that can target pendant small molecule cargoes to the peroxisomes. Successful implementation of this research will result in the characterization peroxisome interaction moieties (PIMs). Properties include cell permeability, interaction of key components of the peroxisome import mechanism, and the ability to direct previously untargeted compounds to the peroxisomes. PIMs will then be used to generate fluorogenic probes to monitor hydrogen peroxide production in the peroxisomes. An expected outcome of the project is to assist students in developing the connections and skills they need to be successful in their future studies and/or careers in STEM while making significant scientific contributions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.