CAREER: Protein dynamics and hydrogen tunneling in enzymatic catalysis

爱荷华州大学的Amnon Kohen博士因其在酶催化中的蛋白质动力学和氢隧穿研究而获得化学系物理化学项目的CAREER资助。 他将开发生物学意义上的C-H键激活如何发生的机制模型，以及蛋白质动力学，耦合运动和量子力学氢隧穿在酶催化中的作用。 动力学同位素效应和温度效应将用于探测隧道效应和相关的反应机制问题。 科恩将生物有机化学，物理有机化学和计算化学的方面纳入专业的有机实验室。 根据最新的文献，将开发一个新的研究生课程，生物学中的化学催化。酶催化是最重要的生物化学现象之一，因为它是我们几乎所有生理生化的核心（我们的食物如何消化，我们的细胞如何繁殖，激素如何引起我们身体功能的变化等）。 耦合运动和量子力学氢隧穿在酶催化中的作用将被识别。 跃迁是一个分子或一组反应分子由于其波状性质而通过反应能垒转移的现象。 反应分子中原子的同步运动或耦合运动是已经发现的在某些酶催化反应中重要的现象。 催化氢转移的二氢叶酸还原酶是一种小而重要的酶，它将是这项研究的重点。 科恩博士计划为本科生和研究生开发生物无机化学领域的新课程。

Dr. Amnon Kohen of the University of Iowa is funded for his research on protein dynamics and hydrogen tunneling in enzymatic catalysis by a CAREER grant in the Physical Chemistry program of the Chemistry Division. He will develop mechanistic models for how biologically significant C-H bond activation occurs and for the role of protein dynamics, coupled motion, and quantum mechanical hydrogen tunneling in enzyme catalysis. Kinetic isotope effects and temperature effects will be used to probe tunneling and associated reaction mechanism questions. Dr. Kohen will incorporate aspects of bioorganic chemistry, physical organic chemistry, and computational chemistry into the organic laboratory for majors. A new graduate course, Chemical Catalysis in Biology, will be developed and based on recent literature.Enzyme catalysis is one of the most important biochemical phenomena, since it is at the heart of nearly all of our physiological biochemistry (how our food is digested, how our cells reproduce, how hormones induce changes in our body functions, etc.). The role of coupled motion and quantum mechanical hydrogen tunneling in enzyme catalysis will be discerned. Tunneling is the phenomenon by which a molecule or group of reacting molecules transfers through a reaction energy barrier due to its wave-like property. Synchronous motion or coupled motion of atoms in a reacting molecule is a phenomenon that has been found to be important in some enzyme catalyzed reactions. The small but important enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase, that catalyzes hydrogen transfer will be a focal point of this research. Dr. Kohen plans on developing new course work in the area of bioinorganic chemistry for both undergraduate and graduate students.