This is a 24-month award proposed by Dr. Barry Rosen, Wayne State University and Dr. Kan-Jen Tsai, Chung Shan Medical and Dental College in Taiwan to study the structure and mechanism of Zn 2+ and CD2+ transporters in bacteria. Dr. Rosen's laboratory plans to carry out research on characterization of ATPases activity; Dr. Tsai will conduct a study on the site-directed mutagenesis of Cys residues and of a motif (CPC) in a membrane-spanning region of the putative transporters. This is a very good international research project in an area in which Dr. Rosen's laboratory has an extensive experience in this area of research. His Taiwan counterpart will work in a complimentary field with him on this study. This project also addresses an INT focus area of providing an opportunity for a U.S. graduate student to work in the counterpart scientist's laboratory in Taiwan. This study is jointly supported by the NSF and the National Science Council of Taiwan.
