Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules as Probed by High Resolution Solid State NMR

在这个由化学系化学测量和成像计划资助的项目中，耶鲁大学的Kurt Zilm教授将开发新的核磁共振技术，以现场特定的方式研究大分子的物理化学。动态核极化(DNP)将核磁共振信号提高100倍以上，这方面的进展将适用于微升大小的样品。这有可能用100毫微克的材料对重组膜蛋白进行可行的生物物理研究。将开发其他方法，通过简单的核磁共振松弛测量来确定10埃量级的距离。这些技术将被应用于了解视觉色素的突变如何改变视网膜生色团的结构，并用于观察蛋白质中埋藏的水分子的动态。这项研究的更广泛影响包括扩展生物物理化学工具箱，以及培训学生成为生物和化学交界处的仪器制造实验者。Zilm教授通过耶鲁大学科学和技术研究学者计划，积极参与招收自然科学研究中代表性不足的学生，并作为当地高中班级化学实验室开放日的东道主。

In this project, funded by the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Kurt Zilm at Yale University will develop novel Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques to study the physical chemistry of large molecules in a site-specific manner. Advances in dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), which enhances NMR signals by over 100-fold, will be adapted to microliter size samples. This has the potential to make feasible biophysical studies on recombinant membrane proteins with as little as 100 nanograms of material. Other methods will be developed to determine distances the order of 10 Angstroms by simple NMR relaxation measurements. These techniques will be applied to understand how mutations in visual pigments change the structure of the retinal chromophore, and for observing the dynamics of buried water molecules in proteins. Broader impacts of this research include expanding the biophysical chemistry toolbox, and the training of students as instrument building experimentalists at the interface of biology and chemistry. Professor Zilm is actively involved in the recruitment of underrepresented students in natural science research through the Yale University Science and Technology Research Scholars program, and as the host of chemistry laboratory open houses for local high school classes.