Heme distortion in the H-NOX family: From basic chemical and physical properties to signal transduction

Suny At Stony Brook, Stony Brook NY

Investigators

Abstract

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Programs support the efforts of Professor Elizabeth M. Boon of SUNY at Stony Brook for the investigation of H-NOX heme structure in response to NO and O2 using chemical and biological tools. This research project will establish structure / function relationships by examining ligand-induced changes in the heme structure and the mechanisms of signal transduction for heme sensor proteins. This fundamental study on the basic science of gas sensing by heme proteins could ultimately lead to applications in biotechnology (artificial O2 and NO sensors), medicine (gas delivery agents), and synthetic biology (artificial signaling pathways). Professor Boon has established a workshop that is targeted at the elementary school level to encourage young girls to explore scientific concepts. A local high school teacher will be working in Professor Boon's laboraotry for the summer, developing new ways to introduce chemical and biological concepts into the curriculum. A new course in chemical biology for undergraduate and graduate students is also under development.