Wing Yan Wu L&S Biological Sciences
Development of a High-Throughput Phosphate Assay
Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is a fundamental signaling molecule and the universal product of energy consumption. Beyond its role in metabolism, Pi is a central component of protein phosphorylation, the primary signaling hub regulating eukaryotic cell growth and metabolic flux. Despite its important role, real-time monitoring of Pi release from ATPases, GTPases, and phosphatases remains technically constrained.
Real-time tracking is critical because phosphorylation is a highly reversible process. Traditional end-point assays fail to capture rapid, transient signaling shifts; thus, a high-resolution kinetic tool is required to reveal the dynamic behavior of enzymatic systems. Existing methods, such as molybdate or malachite green assays, suffer from reagent instability, narrow pH tolerances, and off-target interference.
To overcome these barriers, this project will engineer a fluorescence-based phosphate-binding protein for sensitive, real-time kinetic measurements in vitro. This reagentless sensor will extend an existing proof-of-concept to high-throughput drug screening, enabling rapid and sensitive detection of enzyme inhibitors for next-generation disease therapeutics.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for your generous support of my SURF project this summer, which allowed me to dive deeply into developing therapeutics against neurodegenerative diseases. Working on this project not only strengthened my analytical skills, but it also gave me the confidence to see myself as a capable, independent researcher. Beyond the lab, this experience clarified my passion for life sciences and solidified my decision to pursue graduate school. I am immensely grateful for your investment in my education and future—it has made a truly transformative impact on my academic journey.