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2006 Annual Science Report

University of Hawaii, Manoa Reporting  |  JUL 2005 – JUN 2006

Analysis Tools for a Proteomic View of Adaptations to Extreme Environments

4 Institutions
3 Teams
0 Publications
0 Field Sites
Field Sites

Project Progress

Andy Boal’s project at UH-NAI is concerned with developing a concise, molecular level understanding of how biomolecular structure allows microorganisms to adapt to various extreme aqueous environments. The specific question we are asking is: Are there identifiable protein motifs that allow for protein stability, and therefore organism survivability, which are adapted to function in particular environments? We are attempting to answer this question by applying a suite of techniques that include the development of proteomic databases, design and study of protein model molecules, and molecular characterization of extreme environments.

My group has developed a set of computational tools to support this research, called the Salt Bridge Statistical Analyzer (SBSA). At the most basic level, SBSA allows us to quickly perform statistical analyses of proteomic databases; for example, identifying and counting instances of protein motif classes that meet certain contextual constraints. We have also developed a program that uses a genetic algorithm to learn the features associated with protein stability in extreme environments.

  • PROJECT INVESTIGATORS:
    Kimberly Binsted Kimberly Binsted
    Project Investigator
  • PROJECT MEMBERS:
    Andrew Boal
    Co-Investigator

    Charles Hall
    Graduate Student

    Jimmy Saw
    Graduate Student

  • RELATED OBJECTIVES:
    Objective 5.1
    Environment-dependent, molecular evolution in microorganisms

    Objective 5.3
    Biochemical adaptation to extreme environments