9726633 Fink This award supports a three year collaborative research project between Professor Anthony Fink of the University of California at Santa Cruz and Professor Hiroshi Kihara of the Kansai Medical University in Japan. The researchers will be exploring protein folding at subzero temperatures. The objective of the research is to use subzero temperatures to slow the rate of protein folding down so that early events in folding may be monitored. In particular, they are interested in using small-angle X-ray scattering to measure the rate at which an unfolded protein becomes compact. Information about concurrent secondary and tertiary structure formation will be obtained from parallel investigations using circular dichroism and fluorescence. This project brings together the efforts of two laboratories that have complementary expertise, research capabilities and equipment. The U.S. researchers' primary expertise is in subzero temperature protein folding and the Japanese expertise in the use of small-angle X-ray scattering to follow conformational changes in proteins. Current stopped-flow technology is limited to processes with lifetimes of about a millisecond or longer. the initial collapse of proteins is believed to occur on a faster timescale. By using subzero temperatures, in conjunction with suitable cryosolvents, they can significantly slow the protein folding process, effectively extending the window of observation to shorter timescales. Knowledge of the rate at which the protein collapses is very important and will help distinguish competing models for folding. This should significantly increase our understanding of the process of protein folding. Through the exchange of ideas and technology, this project will broaden our base of basic knowledge and promote international understanding and cooperation. ***
