New Instrumentation and Means to Study the Mechanisms and Pathways of Energy Generation in Microorganisms
Abstract
Xavier University of Louisiana proposes to purchase the customized equipment/instruments necessary to construct and assemble a new and novel integrating cavity absorption meter to conduct accurate spectroscopic, fluorescence, electrochemical and other concomitant measurements on respiratory electron transfer reactions in intact bacteria. Xavier University will use this new instrument to continue its systems biology studies initiated with the DoD-funded research project W911NF-12-1-0042. In particular, the PI proposes to test five new hypotheses generated from his DoD-funded project that would not be possible without access to this new customized instrument to be assembled herein: (i) the initial sequential reduction of redox biomolecules in the aerobic iron respiratory chain will be observed if the intact cells and their soluble reductant are rapidly mixed on the time scale of 1 to 2 milliseconds; (ii) rapid, virtually instantaneous in situ measurements of oxygen concentration are possible using luminescent dyes whose excited state lifetimes are affected by dissolved oxygen; (iii) photochemical action spectra conducted in the presence of inhibiting carbon monoxide will reveal the absorbance spectrum of the CO-binding terminal oxidase in each different iron respiratory chain; (iv) absorbance measurements following the flash photolysis of CO from heme groups in the terminal oxidase will enable us to study the kinetics of oxygen binding to and reactivity with the terminal oxidase in the aerobic respiratory chain; and (v) respiration-dependent changes in NAD(P)H concentrations within the cell may be quantified if in situ fluorescence measurements are conducted in intact cells during aerobic respiration on soluble iron. The educational and research activities of STEM undergraduate students at Xavier University will benefit from the acquisition of this research instrument in that numerous student support programs (including the BUILD, COE, RISE, MARC programs) are always looking for active laboratories in which to place students for a productive research experience. The PIÕs laboratory currently hosts seven undergraduate minority students, all of whom are active and collecting publishable data using the current equipment. The acquisition of new capabilities will only increase the opportunities for students to have a productive experience in this laboratory. The PI has a record of 30 years of directing and maintaining externally-funded research projects that exploit spectroscopic methods to investigate biological phenomena. These new capabilities will provide new opportunities to conduct biochemical measurements that have not been possible heretofore. Xavier University has formally pledged to provide funds for the routine repair and maintenance of this new spectroscopic instrument after the end of DoD support.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 20, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710518
Entities
People
- Robert C. Blake
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Xavier University of Louisiana