9305202 Atkins The long-term goal of the proposed research is to develop strategies and methods for the production of patterned arrays of proteins in one-, two-, and three-dimensional lattices. Specific aims include: (1) To determine the molecular mechanisms of metal ion-induced assembly of "protein tubes" from bacterial gluatmine synthetase (GS) dodecamers. (2) To manipulate the exterior "stacking" surface of GS and construct mutant proteins that preferentially "stack" with other mutants rather than with identical dodecamers. (3) To alter the metal ion specificity of the "stacking" reaction. (4) To determine which subunit interfaces are disrupted and reformed during the pressure-induced dissociation and reassociation of GS and pyruvate dehydrogenase. %%% Development of patterned structures on a nanometer size-scale is widely believed to hold promise for new developments in materials research and manufacturing (nanofabrication). One approach to creating such structures involves utilization and modification of naturally occurring processes, such as protein self-association. By introducing modifications into the surface charge and structure of several target proteins, the investigator intends to determine the "rules of the game" which specify the types of two and three dimensional aggregates which form. ***
