# Acquisition of a FLUOstar Omega plate reader

> **NIH NIH R35** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 2024 · $33,060

## Abstract

Abstract
The overarching goal in this proposal is to understand how molecular motions and biophysical properties
modulate protein interactions to promote normal homeostasis or pathological disease states. We investigate the
relationship between protein dynamics and interactions in three contexts: 1) protein–fibrillar collagen interactions
involved in platelet aggregation; 2) α-synuclein (αS), an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) whose misfolding
and aggregation into amyloid fibrils and deposition into Lewy bodies are associated with debilitating
synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s Disease; and 3) the spike glycoprotein of the severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), whose interaction with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via the
receptor binding domain (RBD) is the initial point of host cell entry. We have recently discovered that in each of
these cases, conformational dynamics profoundly impact their atomic-to-nano scale properties and may affect
their potential for biomolecular interactions. Despite the biological importance of these systems and the
implications for their interactions on disease, the molecular determinants of these protein–protein interactions
remain unanswered. Thus, we use a multifaceted approach integrating solution and solid-state NMR with
biophysical, biological, and computational methods to address how molecular motions modulate protein
interactions to promote normal homeostasis or pathological disease states. Gaining a molecular understanding
of protein–protein interactions with each of these dynamic systems relies on state-of-the-art solution NMR
instrumentation to be able to accurately measure timescales and fluctuations of these interaction events and to
detect transient, lowly populated complexes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11036458
- **Project number:** 3R35GM136431-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **Principal Investigator:** JEAN S BAUM
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $33,060
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11036458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11036458, Acquisition of a FLUOstar Omega plate reader (3R35GM136431-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11036458. Licensed CC0.

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