REGULATION AND NOVEL FUNCTIONS OF INDOLEAMINE 2,3-DIOXYGENASE

我们正在研究一种在宿主对感染的反应中起重要作用的蛋白质。这种蛋白质的表达降解所有必需氨基酸中丰度最低的氨基酸，在炎症性疾病中显著增加，并在控制细胞生长中起作用。沿着它诱导的代谢途径产生的蛋白质和产物沿着具有许多额外的有趣特性，与另一途径的特性相似。我们认为这两种途径在功能上是相关的，并且感兴趣的蛋白质是如何被调节的。我们将直接使用纯化的蛋白质，分离的细胞和动物研究，并采用从物理化学到分子生物学的复杂技术进行测试。我们还将研究我们感兴趣的蛋白质的可能的新功能。这些研究将使我们能够找到调节蛋白质的方法，这可能与感染和动脉硬化等疾病有关。

We are studying a protein important in the host's response to infections. The expression of this protein which degrades the least abundant of all essential amino acids, is increased dramatically in inflammatory disorders, and plays a role in the control of cell growth. The protein and products produced along the metabolic pathway it induces have many additional interesting properties, similar to those of another pathway. We propose that these two pathways are functionally related and how the protein of interest is regulated. We will test this directly using purified proteins, isolated cells, and animal studies and employing sophisticated techniques ranging from physical chemistry to molecular biology. We will also examine possible new functions of our protein of interest. These studies will allow us to find ways to regulate the protein and this may be relevant to diseases such as infections and the hardening of arteries.