This proposal requests a Research Career Development Award for C. Schenck. The long-term research objective of the candidate is to understand the relationship between structure and function of membrane proteins. Other long term career objectives include participation in the establishment of a stimulating training environment for graduate and post-doctoral study in biochemistry and biophysics at Colorado State University. A multidisciplinary approach to problem solving will be encouraged. A first step toward these goals is the development of a vigorous independent research program. An RCDA would allow the candidate to focus complete attention on research and research-related activities for a five year period. Specifically, an RCDA would: 1) Decrease non- research related teaching and administrative activities; 2) Allow the candidate to develop expertise in two research areas closely related to his own research, but requiring further training; 3) Benefit the Department by encouraging collaborative research interactions with at least two other faculty members in a growing research-oriented department. The bacterial reaction center is an interesting system for testing theories of biological electron transfer and protein dynamic behavior. The Research Plan describes the Candidate's short-term research goals for assessing the relationships between structure and function in this protein. Over a five-year period, the Candidate is funded to 1) generate site-directed mutations in bacterial reaction centers, 2) characterize photochemical effects of structural perturbations, 3) characterize the nature of structural perturbations using indirect spectroscopic and biochemical techniques and 4) interpret these observations using physical theories.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Modified Research Career Development Award (K04)
Project #
5K04GM000536-03
Application #
3072908
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Study Section (BBCA)
Project Start
1989-07-01
Project End
1994-06-30
Budget Start
1991-07-01
Budget End
1992-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
112617480
City
Fort Collins
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80523
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Kirmaier, C; Gaul, D; DeBey, R et al. (1991) Charge separation in a reaction center incorporating bacteriochlorophyll for photoactive bacteriopheophytin. Science 251:922-7
McDowell, L M; Gaul, D; Kirmaier, C et al. (1991) Investigation into the source of electron transfer asymmetry in bacterial reaction centers. Biochemistry 30:8315-22
Nagarajan, V; Parson, W W; Gaul, D et al. (1990) Effect of specific mutations of tyrosine-(M)210 on the primary photosynthetic electron-transfer process in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 87:7888-92