CAREER: Engineering Protein Stability in Archaeal Proteoliposomes

9702588 Peeples This Career Proposal describes research and educational plans that will enhance the skills of engineering students to work on interdisciplinary programs at the interface of engineering and the life sciences. The research area involves mechanisms of stability used by thermophiles to stabilize proteins and lipids to heat and acidity. The production of heat shock proteins and the rigidifying of the membrane lipid molecules are two such stabilizing mechanisms. The stabilizing mechanism will be investigated by using electron spin resonance on appropriately labeled portions of the membrane molecules. Once the stabilizing mechanisms have been identified, attempts will be made to extend these mechanisms to enzymes outside of their natural environments, i.e., for use in biocatalysis. Stabilized proteoliposomes will be synthesized and tested to determine their stability. The educational goals will be achieved by a variety of methods including: use of campus resources such as the interdisciplinary Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Program; use of group problem and design situations, specific courses, and a mentoring program to increase diversity and the utilization of underrepresented groups. ***