This $586,230 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) supports fundamental research to develop a quantitative understanding of how the molecular organization of the cell surface glycocalyx (a protective layer of proteins and sugars) modulates the biophysical interactions of proteins, polysaccharides, and macromolecules on the cell membrane. The project will combine molecular dynamics simulations, in-vitro reconstitution of engineered cell surfaces, and live cell experiments to provide a spatial and temporal description of the surface interactions that govern plasma membrane organization. By quantifying the transport and binding of monoclonal antibodies to engineered antigen receptors, the research aims to determine the cooperative dynamics of multibody surface protein interactions. This work seeks to advance the fundamental understanding of cell membrane dynamics that govern surface-mediated cellular processes, with potential impacts on biopharmaceutical drug discovery for antibody therapeutics targeting diseased cell surfaces.
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