Projects

Examinations of Cell Surface Layer Proteins in the Thermophilic Thermotogales Bacteria to Determine Their Roles in Polysaccharide Hydrolysis

Lead Institution

University of Connecticut

Principal Investigator

Kenneth Noll

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

We propose to characterize the protein constituents of the outer surface layer of cells of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima and its relatives and examine their roles in the…

Microscopic Fluoresence Imaging of Cellulose Degradation in Microfluidic Devices

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Jay Grate

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The goals of this project are to (1) test combinations of fluorescent tag, cellulose form, dye-cellulose conjugation method, and microscopy modalities to demonstrate, for the first time, the ability…

Determination of the peptide-binding sites on the bacterial chaperone protein SecB

Lead Institution

University of Missouri - Columbia

Principal Investigator

Linda Randall

Project type

Exploratory Research

The chaperone protein SecB is required for the efficient export of certain proteins across the periplasmic membrane of E.coli. SecB promotes export by binding to the proteins and delivering them to…

The Role of Lipid Phosphatase Sac1 in the Organization of the Cortical/Tubular Endoplasmic Reticulum in Yeast

Lead Institution

Oregon Health & Science University

Principal Investigator

Peter Mayinger

Project type

Exploratory Research

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a continuous membrane system but consists of various domains that perform different functions. Distinct ER regions are composed of sheets and tubules, which differ…

Regulating Space: Bacterial Mastery of the Host Actin Cytoskeleton

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Jason McDermott

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Abstract: The host plasma membrane, the landscape for environmental and physical perturbations by many microbial pathogens, enhances or diminishes signal transduction by altering diffusivity and…

Spectroscopic studies of ambiphilic molecular complexes. Activation of small molecules with non-transition metal catalysis

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Thomas Autrey

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

This project will provide fundamental insight into the catalytic activation and transformation of small molecules, e.g., H2, CO2, N2, CH4, by non-metal Lewis pairs in condensed phase environments…

Bioinspired electrocatalysts for small molecule activation.

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Wendy Shaw

Project type

Exploratory Research

The proposed EMSL research is in support of three DOE Basic Energy Sciences research programs that focus on the development of new classes of electrocatalysts for important energy storage and energy…

Nanoparticle / PDMS-based Microfluidic Device for Environmental Monitoring

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Jun Wang

Project type

Exploratory Research

This proposal is to develop nanoparticle-based microfluidic chips for multiplexed detection of environmental biomarkers. We will choose the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) to fabricate the microfluidic…

Quantification of Reactive Surface Area of Shales from a Hillslope via 19F MAS NMR of a Fluorine-Containing Probe Molecule

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Karl Mueller

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

To understand natural processes such as nutrient and contaminant cycling as well as carbon sequestration, the rates of regolith formation from rocks and subsequent weathering into secondary minerals…

Characterize the Thermodynamic Forces of Decomposing a Cellulose Microfibril

Lead Institution

University of California, Berkeley

Principal Investigator

Jhih-Wei Chu

Project type

Exploratory Research

To develop viable technologies for the enzymatic decomposition and conversion of cellulosic materials into fuels, mechanistic understanding of the molecular processes that are involved is in urgent…

The Spatial and Chemical Diversity of a Model Microbial Ecosystem by a Combination of Metabolomics and NMR Imaging

Lead Institution

University of California, Berkeley

Principal Investigator

Jillian Banfield

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Mixed microbial communities drive many key biogeochemical processes, but the mechanisms by which microbial species interact, as well as and the relationship between these interactions and community…

Molecular Interfaces to Single-crystal Anatase Surfaces:
Surface Chemistry and Impact on Charge Dynamics

Lead Institution

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Principal Investigator

Robert Hamers

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The anatase form of TiO2 is of great interest as a substrate for a variety of photochemical and photoelectrochemical pathways for solar-to-electrical and solar-to-fuel conversion. The resulting…

Molecular Level Understanding of Dissociation of Radical Cationic Glycosylated and Phosphorylated Peptides: Energetics, Dynamics and Mechanisms

Lead Institution

The University of Hong Kong

Principal Investigator

Ivan Chu

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The goal of this proposed project is to achieve a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms, energetics, and kinetics of specific dissociation pathways of the radical cations of post…

Deep-Proteome Analysis of Bioremediation Cultures Containing Dehalococcoides: from Gene Network Elucidation to Biomarker Quantification in Field Samples

Lead Institution

Cornell University

Principal Investigator

Ruth Richardson

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The prevalence of chlorinated organic compounds as environmental pollutants, in addition to their potential detoxification through biological pathways, has led to the development of bioremediation…

Carbon Nanotube - Intestinal Barrier Cell Interactions and Absorption

Lead Institution

Indiana University School of Medicine

Principal Investigator

Frank Witzmann

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are important components of the rapidly expanding nanotechnology field. We hypothesize that engineered, water dispersible CNTs, when exposed to gastrointestinal (GI) tract…

Structure and Reactivity of Sub-3 nm Ammonium/Aminium Sulfate Clusters Relevant to Tropospheric New Particle Formation

Lead Institution

University of Delaware

Principal Investigator

Murray Johnston

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

New particle formation (NPF) occurs when gas-phase species condense to form new particles in the low-nanometer size range. These particles can subsequently grow to diameters of about 100 nm, at which…

Fully In Silico Calibration Of Empirical Predictive Models For Environmental Fate Properties Of Novel Munitions Compounds

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Kurt Glaesemann

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Predicting chemical properties is a long-standing challenge that has received extensive study for many applications (chemical engineering, green chemistry, environmental chemistry, toxicology,…

Thermochemical Kinetics of Pyrolysis and Oxidation of Biodiesel for Predictive Combustion Modeling

Lead Institution

Princeton University

Principal Investigator

Emily Carter

Project type

Exploratory Research

The increasing sensitivity in the U.S. over the dependence on foreign sources of crude oil for energy production, as well as the need to limit the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, is…

Understanding Biomass Conversion within Thermophilic Communities and Isolates

Lead Institution

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Steven Singer

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Efficient deconstruction of lignocellulose into monomeric sugars is a key step in the development of renewable and sustainable liquid transportation fuels from biomass. The DOE Joint BioEnergy…

Experimental Studies of Fundamental Molecule-Particle Interactions and Reactions on Iron Metal and Oxide Surfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

R. Smith

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

We will employ a novel 'atom-dropping' approach to explore the reactivity Fe and Fe oxides with environmentally relevant species. Iron oxides will be deposited directly via evaporation or…