CORE--STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY

结构生物学核心的总体目标是促进 聚乙二醇胺大分子的制备及分子表征 对酒精研究的重要性。这将通过协助 研究人员：(1)克隆或合成cDNA，克隆cDNA 转化为表达载体，细菌或酵母发酵，以及 重组蛋白的纯化至均一，(2) 蛋白质或DNA序列和/或分子结构的测定 X射线结晶学或荧光学，(3)多肽的合成 产生抗体的抗原；(4)配基的测定 停流动力学的结合和/或酶催化速率。 该中心的研究人员在上述方面拥有丰富的经验 技术和核心的目的是提供这种专业知识 该中心的其他研究人员(和酒精研究社区 大)。核心还将促进访问共享设备 中心研究人员的实验室，生化生物技术 所需的X射线结晶学设施 重组蛋白的制备及其结构分析。一个 该中心的主要重点是阐明影响酒精的基因 新陈代谢、饮酒行为和酗酒。它来自于 这些基因蛋白产物的结构和生化研究 我们将对功能效应有更深入的了解 基因多态可能对酒精中毒有影响。

The overall goal of the Structural Biology Core is to facilitate the preparation and molecular characterization of macromolecules of importance to alcohol research. This will be accomplished by assisting researchers in: (1) the cloning or synthesis of cDNAs, cloning of cDNAs into expression vectors, bacterial or yeast fermentation, and the purification of recombinant proteins to homogeneity, (2) the determination of protein or DNA sequence and/or molecular structure by X-ray crystallography or fluorescence, (3) the synthesis of polypeptide antigens for antibody production, and (4) the determination of ligand binding and/or enzyme catalytic rates by stopped-flow kinetics. Researchers in the Center have considerable experience with the above techniques and the purpose of the Core is to provide this expertise to other researchers in the Center (and the alcohol research community at large). The Core will also facilitate access to shared equipment in Center researcher's laboratories, the Biochemistry Biotechnology Facility, and the X-ray Crystallography Facility necessary for preparation of recombinant proteins and analysis of their structure. A major focus of the Center is to elucidate genes that affect alcohol metabolism, alcohol drinking behavior, and alcoholism. It is from structural and biochemical studies of the protein products of these genes that we will gain a greater understanding of the functional effects that polymorphisms may have on alcoholism.