UROP Project

chemistry, biology, physics, biosensor, drug discovery

Research Mentor: Dr. Steven Lenhert,
Department, College, Affiliation: Biological Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: lenhert@bio.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Vincent Tocci, Tracey Bell
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday Sept 3, 2:30-3:00 pm
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93514430344
Recording:
https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/-9DGE2TwlUR0Ed3sAjOg9MN8i7I5gwH1so2y4keeWkyxKBZloTA-LI5PvqrybSaO.L6Sk8DL8oTLgqqju

Project Description

Molecular recognition is a fundamental function of large biological polymers such as proteins and nucleic acids that makes life possible. The ability for these molecules to recognize eachother and other, smaller molecules allows processes such as metabolism, cell signaling, transport, immunology, gene expression, and cell division. In the last hundred years, polymeric molecular recognition has come to be understood in terms of one molecule binding selectively to another by means of the three dimensional shapes of the molecules involved, or molecular fits. A well studied example is antibody binding to antigens, which is crucial for immunology and has found a variety of biotechnological applications in diagnostics and therapeutics.
Our group has demonstrated another kind of molecular recognition that is based on the partitioning of molecules between two phases such as oil and water. This type of molecular recognition is based on aggregates of small molecules such as lipid bilayers or lipid droplets. This project uses model systems composed of organic oil droplets in water to characterize the molecular recognition capabilities.1-5 In addition to providing insights into the organization and function of biological molecules in cells, the project has technological applications for new lipid-based drug targets and biosensors for diagnostic and environmental detection.6
References:
1. S. Liu, K. Kumar, T. Bell, A. Ramamoorthy, D. Van Winkle, S. Lenhert, Lipid-Based Catalysis Demonstrated by Bilayer-Enabled Ester Hydrolysis. Membranes 14, 168 (2024).
2. H. Zhou, E. Shiel, T. Bell, S. Lin, S. Lenhert, Kinetic Mechanism of Surfactant-Based Molecular Recognition: Selective Permeability across an Oil–Water Interface Regulated by Supramolecular Aggregates. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, (2023).
3. T. W. Lowry, A. E. Kusi-Appiah, D. A. Fadool, S. Lenhert, Odor Discrimination by Lipid Membranes. Membranes 13, 151 (2023).
4. S. Liu, A.-T. Wei, H. Wang, D. Van Winkle, S. Lenhert, Combinatorial Mixtures of Organic Solutes for Improved Liquid/Liquid Extraction of Ions. Soft Matter 19, 6903-6910 (2023).
5. T. N. Bell, K. Feng, G. Calvin, D. H. Van Winkle, S. Lenhert, Organic Composomes as Supramolecular Aptamers. ACS Omega 5, 27393-27400 (2020).
6. S. Lenhert, E. Shiel, H. Zhou, Two Phase Indicator Displacement Assay, US Patent Pending, US20230333127A1

Research Tasks: Relevant literature will be read and experimental design carried out. Droplet arrays containing various solutes will be produced and exposed to analytes. The partitioning will be measured using an optical detection system available in the lab. Data will be analyzed and graphs plotted to determine the partitioining as a function of droplet composition. Further details related to the tasks will be determined based on the student’s abilities and availability. An ideal result of this project would be coauthorship on a paper that makes use of the data produced during the project.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Basic chemistry or molecular biology
Recommended: Data analysis, microscopy