MRI:Acquisition of a Circular Dichroism Spectrophotometer for Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Chemistry and Biology at an Undergraduate College

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。有了来自主要研究仪器（MRI）计划的这一奖项，韦尔斯利学院化学系将获得一个圆二色性（CD）分光光度计，用于学生的研究和培训。 研究项目涉及化学-生物学界面的各种问题，包括：1）抗微生物肽的结构如何与它们穿过和破坏细胞膜的能力相关，2）测量与淋巴瘤相关的细胞信号传导突变的结构效应，3）与神经疾病相关的肽的聚集行为，4）研究一种加工神经肽的酶的结构-功能关系，和5）蛋白质的生物化学特性，被认为在植物细胞分裂过程中的膜运输事件中起关键作用。圆二色性分光光度计将产生光谱数据，提供以下信息分子结构，特别是生物分子如核酸、蛋白质和酶的构象。 该仪器将用于本科生的研究和实验室课程。 CD分光光度计将通过应用圆二色光谱研究分子间相互作用、几何异构体和蛋白质结构，整合到介绍化学、有机化学和生物化学实验室中。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, the Department of Chemistry at Wellesley College will acquire a circular dichroism (CD) spectrophotometer for use in research and training of students. Research projects involve a wide array of problems at the chemistry-biology interface including: 1) How the structure of antimicrobial peptides is related to their ability to cross and disrupt cell membranes, 2) Measurement of the structural effect of cell-signaling mutations associated with lymphomas, 3) The aggregation behavior of peptides related to neurological diseases, 4) A study of the structure-function relationships of an enzyme that processes neuropeptides, and 5) The biochemical characterization of a protein thought to play a critical role in membrane trafficking events during plant cell cytokinesis.A circular dichroism spectrophotometer will produce spectral data that provides information on molecular structure and especially the conformations of bio-molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and enzymes. The instrument will be used in research and laboratory classes by undergraduate students. The CD spectrophotometer will be integrated into Introductory Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry laboratories by applying circular dichroism spectra to the study of intermolecular interactions, geometric isomers and protein structure.