Project Grant 2227268

This $1,201,221 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), will fund research into the impact of charge regulation on conformational and phase equilibria of intrinsically disordered proteins. The awardee, Washington University in University City, Missouri, will leverage new computational and experimental methods to study how specific proteins known as intrinsically disordered proteins are modified by the uptake or release of protons based on solution acidity. The research is intended to improve understanding of how alterations to protein charge states influence their functions. The work will incorporate novel machine learning modules and computational tools into instructional materials for trainees and students in molecular biophysics. It will also engage underrepresented middle and high school students to explain acid-base equilibria and their role in driving new research frontiers.