CHEMICAL SENSORS FOR CELLULAR CONDITIONS AND COMPONENTS

描述了模块化的变构化学传感器的一般方法。 化学传感器是一种小的合成分子， 在与特定分析物相互作用时发出信号。生化 社区，它们已被用作敏感、非破坏性的方法， 定量细胞中特定分析物的量。化学敏感 在揭示细胞功能方面发挥了关键作用， 大量的金属离子，尤其是细胞钙离子。类似传感器用于 有机分子还没有达到这样的成功水平。具体 本研究的目的是开发一种新的化学传感器框架， 然后将其应用于两个具体问题。第一个问题是 在水溶液中识别氨基酸。这是一个重要 未解决的问题，具有广泛的影响。特别是兴奋性的 氨基酸将被靶向。这项工作将直接影响 神经化学研究，因为目前很难直接 以非破坏性的方式检测神经递质，如谷氨酸。 这些分子的化学传感器将使大量的基本 神经传递的研究第二个具体目标是 用于细胞内存在的氧化还原电位的化学传感器。因为它 最近有人提出，一些细胞过程是 受细胞氧化还原电位控制，了解这种电位 非常重要。传感器可以快速轻松地量化 细胞还原的潜力将是非常宝贵的工作， 这些过程的机制。

A general approach to modular, allosteric chemosensors is described. Chemosensors are small synthetic molecules which produces a visible signal upon interaction with a specific analyte. In the biochemical community, they have been used as sensitive, non-destructive methods for quantifying the amount of a particular analyte in cells. Chemosensors have played a pivotal role in unraveling the cellular function of a number of metal ions, most notably cell calcium. Similar sensors for organic molecules have not reached this level of success. The specific aims of this research are to develop a novel chemosensor framework and subsequently apply it to two specific problems. The first problem is the recognition of amino acids in aqueous solution. This is an important unsolved problem with broad ramifications. Specifically, excitatory amino acids will be targeted. This work will have direct impact on neurochemical research in that it is currently difficult to directly detect neurotransmitters such as glutamate in a non-destructive manner. Chemosensors for these molecules will enable a great deal of basic research into neurotransmission. The second specific target is a chemosensor for the redox potential present inside of cells. Since it has recently been suggested that a number of cell processes are controlled by the cellular redox potential, knowledge of this potential is of great importance. Sensors which can quickly and easily quantify the cellular reduction potential would be invaluable for work on the mechanisms of these processes.