Research on the Conformation of Protein Molecules

芬恩博士将使用一种相对较新的电喷雾质谱技术来研究大分子的构象。具体而言，他将：(1)利用串联质谱法获得氨基酸分子间非共价力的实验数据，以测量ES电离产生的小簇解离所需的能量；(2)获得蛋白质构象表面积的实验信息，并研究该表面的疏水和亲水非均质性。虽然重点将放在溶液中的蛋白质，但其他种类的聚合物将被考虑，因为它们可能提供有用的观点。蛋白质分子的构象或“三级结构”决定了它们的生物活性，因此是生命系统中许多（如果不是大多数的话）化学过程的控制因素。因此，了解任何蛋白质分子的活性结构是什么以及它为什么和如何产生是至关重要的。这些研究的一个希望的副产品将是对溶质离子由带电液滴形成的机制的一些见解。

Dr. Fenn will use a relatively new technique of Electrospray Mass spectrometry to study the conformation of macromolecules. Specifically, he will: (1) obtain experimental data on the non- covalent forces between amino acid molecules by using tandem mass spectrometry methods to measure the energies required to dissociate small clusters produced by ES ionization; (2) obtain experimental information on the surface area of a protein conformer ion and to investigate the hydrophobic and hydrophilic heterogeneity of that surface. Although emphasis will be placed on proteins in solution, other kinds of polymers will be considered because they may provide useful perspectives. %%% The conformation or "tertiary structure" of protein molecules determines their biological activity and so is a governing factor in many if not most of the chemical processes in living systems. Consequently, it is of vital importance to understand for any protein molecule what its active configuration is along with why and how it comes about. A hoped-for byproduct of these studies will be some insight on mechanisms by which solute ions are formed from charged droplets.