CAREER: Chiral Biopolymer Liquid Crystals

职业：手性生物聚合物液晶

• 批准号: 9984427
• 负责人: Helmut Strey
• 金额: $ 36万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-02-01 至 2005-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9984427&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Chiral; Biopolymer; Liquid; Crystals

This CAREER project is an experimental condensed matter physics investigation of chiral biopolymer liquid crystals. A molecule is chiral if it cannot be superimposed on its mirror image. Nearly all molecules synthesized by living organisms are chiral, often expressing their chirality by forming helical structures, as typified by the alpha-helix in proteins, DNA, and many polysaccharides. Despite the vast number of examples of chirality in nature, important details of chiral interactions are still poorly understood. In this integrated research and educational project the self-assembly of chiral will be studied. A connection between structure and thermodynamics of chiral mesophases and their molecular-level chirality will be made by measuring their equation of state using the osmotic stress method, x-ray diffraction and polarizing microscopy. Biomolecular systems that will be studied include DNA, 2'-deoxyguaniosine-5'monophosphate, and alpha-helical polypeptides. Results from this project could lead to the development of efficient chiral separation techniques which are much needed in the pharmaceutical industry to produce enatiomerically pure drugs. Such drugs are often safer and more potent. The educational part of this project will initiate a collaborative biophysics effort in the Five College area. Students participating in the project will receive excellent training in multidisciplinary techniques at the interface of physics and biology.This CAREER project is an experimental condensed matter physics investigation of chiral biopolymer liquid crystals. A molecule is chiral if it is not superimposable on its mirror image. Nearly all molecules synthesized by living organisms are chiral, often expressing their chirality by forming helical structures, as typified by the alpha-helix in proteins, DNA, and many polysaccharides. Ironically, despite the vast number of examples of chirality in nature, important details of chiral interactions are still poorly understood. In this integrated research and educational project the interactions between chiral biopolymers will be measured directly. Knowledge of chiral forces will allow us to predict how chiral molecules assemble into more complex, higher level structures. Biomolecular systems that will be studied include DNA, quadruple-helical DNA, and helical polypeptides. Results from this project should lead to the development of new and efficient chiral separation techniques which are much needed in the pharmaceutical industry to produce enantiomerically pure drugs. Such drugs are often safer and more potent. The educational part of this project will initiate a collaborative biophysics effort in the Five College area. Students participating in the project will receive excellent training in multidisciplinary techniques at the interface of physics and biology.

该职业项目是手性生物聚合物液晶的实验凝聚态物理研究。 如果分子不能叠加在其镜像上，则该分子是手性的。几乎所有生物体合成的分子都是手性的，通常通过形成螺旋结构来表达其手性，如蛋白质、DNA 和许多多糖中的 α 螺旋所示。 尽管自然界存在大量手性例子，但人们对手性相互作用的重要细节仍然知之甚少。 在这个综合研究和教育项目中，将研究手性的自组装。 通过使用渗透应力法、X 射线衍射和偏光显微镜测量其状态方程，可以将手性中间相的结构和热力学及其分子水平手性之间的联系建立起来。 将研究的生物分子系统包括DNA、2'-脱氧鸟苷-5'单磷酸和α-螺旋多肽。 该项目的结果可能会导致有效的手性分离技术的发展，这是制药行业生产对映体纯药物所急需的。 此类药物通常更安全、更有效。 该项目的教育部分将在五所学院地区启动生物物理学合作项目。 参与该项目的学生将接受物理和生物学交叉领域多学科技术的优秀培训。该职业项目是手性生物聚合物液晶的实验性凝聚态物理研究。 如果分子不能与其镜像重叠，则该分子是手性的。 几乎所有生物体合成的分子都是手性的，通常通过形成螺旋结构来表达其手性，如蛋白质、DNA 和许多多糖中的 α 螺旋所示。 讽刺的是，尽管自然界存在大量手性例子，但人们对手性相互作用的重要细节仍然知之甚少。 在这个综合研究和教育项目中，将直接测量手性生物聚合物之间的相互作用。 对手性力的了解将使我们能够预测手性分子如何组装成更复杂、更高层次的结构。 将研究的生物分子系统包括DNA、四螺旋DNA和螺旋多肽。 该项目的结果将促进新的、有效的手性分离技术的发展，这是制药行业生产对映体纯药物所急需的。 此类药物通常更安全、更有效。 该项目的教育部分将在五所学院地区启动生物物理学合作项目。 参与该项目的学生将在物理和生物学交叉领域接受出色的多学科技术培训。