This U.S.-Argentina award will provide support for collaborative research between Dr. Jose M. Arguello, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Dr. Francisco L. Gonzalez-Flecha at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. They will study P-type ATPases, an important class of membrane proteins, from theromophilic organisms.
The results of this work will increase our understanding of this type of protein, which is one of the most important membrane proteins, but experimentally difficult. Each side of this international collaboration brings unique expertise to the project. The U.S. lab will provide strains and the experimental approach to express heterologous Cop A, an experimental system that is not yet broadly developed in Argentina. Dr. Gonzalez-Flecha will bring his expertise on physical-chemistry for the study/analysis of membrane proteins.