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Publication Date - 12/3/1999

24. NIH/NIGMS/NIAMS/NIDDK/NIEHS & NINDS - Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), the national Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin (NIAMS), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) invite basic research on the structures of membrane proteins at (or near) atomic resolution. Despite several recent landmark solutions of membrane protein structures, there remains a significant gap between the understanding of membrane proteins and that of their soluble counterparts. An increase in the number of known membrane protein structures will contribute to an enhanced understanding of many basic phenomena underlying cellular functions essential to human health.

The objective of this program is two-fold: to encourage investigators with interests in membrane associated systems to pursue high resolution structural studies making use of these recently developed technologies; and to encourage additional research to further develop methods for studying the structure of membrane proteins at atomic resolution.

Areas identified as needing specific attention include

• improved methods for over-expression of native and modified membrane proteins;
• improved methods for isolation, purification and stabilization of membrane proteins, including the development of new detergents and non-detergent solubilization agents;
• basic research on the physical chemistry of membrane protein crystallization and the development of new methods for crystallization and crystal manipulation that could facilitate data collection;
• further development of methods for electron diffraction;
• further development of NMR methods for examining proteins in their native lipid environments.

A major aim of this program announcement (PA) is to stimulate collaborations between biochemists and molecular biologists with expertise in the isolation and characterization of membrane-bound proteins and biophysicists with expertise in x-ray crystallography, NMR, and other structural methods.

The support mechanism for this PA is the NIH individual research project grant (RO1) and the program project grant (PO1). Applicants may also apply for the Small Business innovation Research grants (R43, R44) and Small Business Technology Transfer (R41, R42).

Applications are due at the NIH Center for Scientific Review on or before FEBRUARY 1, JUNE 1 or OCTOBER 1, 2000.

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