MRI: Acquisition of Surface Plasmon Resonance and Calorimetry Instrumentation

卡耐基梅隆大学化学系将获得一台表面等离子体共振（SPR）仪器、一台等温滴定量热计和一台差示扫描量热计，该奖项来自主要研究仪器（MRI）项目。这些仪器将用于解决基础生物学、生物技术和纳米技术方面的问题，统一的主题是基于非共价相互作用的分子识别和键合。正在研究的一些项目包括开发与特定DNA和RNA序列具有高亲和力的新化合物；在谷胱甘肽s -转移酶（一类重要的解毒酶）的背景下，酶的动力学和功能如何与热力学耦合；开发依靠RNA和蛋白质识别元件结合特定靶标和荧光指示染料的荧光生物传感器。这些仪器被用来研究分子，尤其是生物学上重要的分子，是如何相互结合的。表面等离子体共振（SPR）允许在低纳摩尔浓度下确定动力学和平衡常数，其中生物活性是最理想的。等温滴定和差示扫描量热法提供了详细的洞察这些非共价相互作用的热力学。这些仪器将被研究生和本科生在他们的研究和实验课程中使用。他们将接受复杂的训练，使用现代仪器来了解生化系统。

The Department of Chemistry at Carnegie-Mellon University will acquire a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument, an isothermal titration calorimeter and a differential scanning calorimeter with this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. These instruments will be used to address questions in fundamental biology, biotechnology and nanotechnology, unified by the theme of molecular recognition and bonding based on noncovalent interactions. Some of the projects to be investigated include developing new compounds that bind to specific sequences of DNA and RNA with high affinity; how enzyme dynamics and function are coupled with thermodynamics in the context of glutathione S-transferases, an important class of detoxification enzymes; developing fluorescent biosensors that rely on RNA and protein recognition elements that bind to specific targets and fluorogenic indicator dyes.These instruments are used to study how molecules, especially biologically important ones, bind to one another. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) allows both kinetic and equilibrium constants to be determined at low nanomolar concentrations where biological activity is most desirable. Isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetry provide detailed insight into the thermodynamics of these noncovalent interactions. These instruments will be used by graduate and undergraduate students in their research and in laboratory courses. They will receive sophisticated training using modern instruments basic to understanding biochemical systems.