Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Proteins are biomolecules responsible for almost every biochemical event within, outside, and between cells. They exhibit tremendous variability in their sizes, shapes, and interactions with other molecules, and it is these characteristics that distinguish their individual roles and behaviours. Comprehensive knowledge of their molecular structures and interactions expands our fundamental understanding of the biochemical processes they are responsible for, and affords the possibility of harnessing their functions for future biotechnological applications. Structural biologists at Queen's University have established outstanding records of success in characterizing a diverse array of proteins using structural methods in combination with biophysical, biochemical and cell biology approaches. Their studies critically rely on the continual generation of milligram quantities of purified recombinant proteins, and unfettered access to a set of versatile and robust centrifuges is central to this ability. Thus, we are requesting funds to purchase a high-capacity centrifuge, an ultracentrifuge, and accompanying rotors to replace decades-old systems that are continually breaking down and on the verge of catastrophic failure. This centrifuge suite will also ensure that trainees in the applicants' research groups can produce purified proteins in a timely and reproducible manner for their transformative structural and functional studies. In doing so, they will provide new insights into proteins functioning in critical interaction networks that are fundamental to growth and development of all living systems. They also will give rise to new knowledge about how to better deal with environmental pollutants and access new fuel resources. Finally, they will provide a molecular basis for understanding protein interactions, which can inform protein engineering and synthetic biology strategies to harness proteins and proteins complexes for biotechnological advances, including in alternative fuel generation, bioremediation, green adhesives, medical devices.