City College Interns in Materials Research 1998

Intern: Angela Isbill

Mentor: Yan Zhou

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dan Morse

Supporting Grant Agencies: National Science Foundation (NSF), US Army Research Office, Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, US Office of Naval Research, US Dept. of Commerce, Dow Corning Corporation

Project Title: Site-directed Mutagenesis in Silicatein-a

Using site-directed mutagenesis, which is a method that introduces a defined mutation into a DNA target of know sequence, to study the effects of certain amino acids on the polymerization of silicatein-a. Silicatein- a is a protein sub-unit extracted from the axial filament of the spicule from the sponge Tethya aurantia.

The main goal is to find how this sponge produces silica at low temperature, pressure, and neutral pH. This knowledge could lead to an easier low temperature route to the synthesis of silica.

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