A UCLA scientist has been awarded over $4.5 million to research
how the environment in which proteins are formed affects their
structure. Research experts said this would enhance their ability
to observe and understand molecular processes in general.
Shimon Weiss, a professor in the UCLA Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, received the grant from the National Science
Foundation’s Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research
program for his work on protein-folding mechanisms.
When proteins are produced inside cells, they immediately fold
into a structure predetermined by their DNA. Although scientists
have been able to observe this folding first-hand, most
observations have been of proteins produced in artificial
environments.
According to a press release from the California NanoSystems
Institute, of which Weiss is a member, the team will use the grant
to observe proteins being formed under a variety of artificial
conditions and will compare those results to observations of
proteins forming naturally on ribosomes inside a cell. They hope to
determine whether the environment in which a protein forms affects
its final structure.
The statement added that the team’s research is expected
to generally improve scientists’ ability to observe complex
molecular processes.
The tools and methods researchers are expected to develop over
the course of the project may eventually be applicable to other
branches of molecular science.
The grant is part of a larger $14 million award given to
researchers at Stanford, UC Davis, Texas A&M, Michigan State
University and the Scripps Research Institute, in addition to the
team at UCLA.
Researchers awarded this grant are expected to use innovative
and interdisciplinary methods to answer outstanding scientific
questions.
Compiled by Julia Erlandson, Bruin senior staff.