Enhancing the Biophysical Component of the Physical Chemistry Laboratory

越来越多的化学专业学生寻求与生物应用相关的课程和研究。化学系的回应是，通过增加本科生接触选定生物现象的化学基础，积极展示化学原理在许多生命科学应用中的基础作用。这个项目向物理化学实验室的学生展示了研究生物大分子的物理行为和性质所用的关键技术。荧光光谱学可以从物理化学的角度对生物系统进行检查。最初的一系列实验包括荧光各向异性测量以获得膜的微粘度，对蛋白质变性动力学的稳态荧光猝灭研究，以及对几种B-环糊精包合物形成的热力学的研究。这些课程修订是对所有化学专业的生物物理化学元素的介绍。

Increased numbers of chemistry majors seek courses and research with biological applications. The Department of Chemistry is responding by actively demonstrating the fundamental role of chemical principles in many life science applications by increasing the exposure of undergraduates to the chemical basis of selected biological phenomena. This project presents physical chemistry laboratory students with key techniques used in studying the physical behavior and properties of biological macromolecules. Fluorescence spectroscopy allows examinination of biological systems from a physical chemistry perspective. The initial set of experiments being introduced include fluorescence anisotropy measurements to yield membrane micro-viscosity, a steady-state fluorescence quenching study of the kinetics of protein denaturation, and an investigation of the thermodynamics of formation of several B-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. These curricular revisions are serving as an introduction to elements of biophysical chemistry for all chemistry majors.