This proposal requests funds to purchase two multi-user instruments for oligonucleotide and peptide synthesis. An Automated Oligonucleotide Synthesizer would allow uninterrupted core DNA service by replacing an old, undependable and inefficient instrument. A Multiple Peptide Synthesizer would allow improvements in basic research projects currently hampered by the expense and time required for synthesis of a large number of peptide analogs. The major users would be NIH/NSF funded researchers in the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Medicine, and the Arizona Research Laboratories (an interdisciplinary division). The instruments would be housed in the Macromolecular Structures Facility established by the Division of Biotechnology. Skilled personnel will operate, maintain and train other users. THe specific research that would be enhanced by these instruments includes: the molecular biological basis for cell differentiation and morphology; plant gene expression and responses to biological stresses (salt, low water, heat); heat shock proteins; RNA processing, protein transport and gene expression in chloroplasts; yeast mRNA stability; gene transcription regulation and self-processing; cytokeratin immunology and biochemistry; expression of insect protease inhibitors; insect endocrinology; insect protein, lipid, and structure function studies; total immune system evolution; electron transport protein biochemistry and studies on peptide/protein conformational constraints, hormone receptor recognition and structure/function studies.
