Development and Application of X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy to Study Structure in Biological and Chemical Systems

在这个由物理化学和生物物理项目共同资助的项目中，将开发用于高分辨率研究生物重要分子中金属离子中心的x射线吸收技术。将特别关注开发含铁和含铜蛋白质中共价的直接探针。氮酶是负责将大气中的氮转化为氨的酶，是自然界中肥料的主要来源之一。对这种转化完成的生物过程的详细化学理解使我们更接近经济和环保肥料生产的目标。该项目通过开发x射线方法来确定相关酶的结构和键合，可能会在这方面取得重大突破。

In this project, jointly funded by the Physical Chemistry and Biophysics Programs, X-ray absorption techniques for high resolution studies of metal ion centers in biologically important molecules will be developed. Specific attention will be paid to developing direct probes of covalence in iron- and copper-containing proteins. %%% Nitrogenase, the enzyme responsible for converting atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, is one of nature's major sources of fertilizer. Detailed chemical understanding of the biological process by which this conversion is accomplished brings us closer to the goal of economical and environmentally benign fertilizer production. This project, by developing X-ray methods of determining structure and bonding in the relevant enzymes, may lead to major breakthroughs in this effort.