Biophysical mechanism and synthetic engineering of optically-controlled Ca2+- powered supramolecular engines

Georgia Institute Of Technology, Atlanta GA

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Abstract

Abstract The proposed Administrative Supplement to R35GM142588 (MIRA) aims to purchase a FluidFM OMNIUM CORE instrument to explore the role of RNA in single-cell learning in Spirostomum ambiguum. This cutting-edge instrument will allow the lab to conduct live RNA sequencing experiments on living cells, enabling the investigation of single-cell learning without neurons. The purchase of the instrument is justified as it furthers the aims of the MIRA proposal and has the potential to open up new avenues of research on memory storage and transfer in aneural organisms, with potential applications in medicine and biotechnology. The proposal has the potential to introduce new paradigms for "memory molecules" that could be stored, modified, or transferred between living and synthetic systems. The purchase of the instrument is justified as it furthers the aims of the MIRA proposal, the need is justified, and the equipment cost is within $250k. The unobligated balance on the parent R35 MIRA is approximately $90,000, which is not enough to cover the purchase of the instrument.