RUI: Mossbauer Studies of Iron Containing Enzyme Active Sites and Model Complexes

获得这一奖项后，化学系的生命过程化学项目和分子与细胞生物科学系(MCB)的分子生物物理学项目支持乌尔辛斯学院的Codrina V.Popescu博士与本科生一起进行穆斯堡尔谱学研究。研究范围从小分子铁(Fe)化合物的研究到蛋白质中新的Fe位点的探索。这项研究的预期科学成果包括：(1)阐明了新型铁基氢电催化剂的电子结构和氢酶模型，包括低自旋Fe(I)，对其光谱基准很少；(2)氢酶和其他仿生化合物模型络合物的结构和光谱变化的关联；(3)来自A.ornata的双功能血红蛋白-过氧化物酶脱氢过氧化物酶的活性中心的表征以及裂环双加氧酶的催化中间体的模型。铁是生物系统中含量最丰富的过渡金属。铁的蛋白质和酶参与生命过程，如氧化、解毒、氢和氮代谢。穆斯堡尔谱可以深入了解铁化合物的电子结构，通常使我们能够直接或通过探索可用作催化剂的小分子模型来阐明酶的活性部位的性质。基础研究中的前沿问题对环境问题有影响，例如需要更清洁的能源和处理污染。从穆斯堡尔谱的细节中，我们正试图了解铁是如何以环境友好的方式执行截然不同的化学壮举的。这些跨学科项目目前对基础科学和潜在的技术应用具有广泛的兴趣，从替代燃料(氢酶模型复合体)到催化(仿生)和环境生物修复(脱卤素过氧化物酶)。通过其跨学科协作的性质，这项研究对其他四个机构的合作者的项目产生了影响，并允许乌尔辛斯学院的本科生与这些其他研究小组的学生和教职员工进行互动。这项研究促进了导师和学生之间的密切关系，他们活跃在科学发现的所有步骤中，从产生假设到解释阐明新电子结构所需的光谱参数。这一本科研究培训和教育计划通过高级学位培养学生的成长和独立性，为他们在STEM的教学和研究生涯做好准备。它还为不同的学生提供跨学科的项目，在这些项目中，实践光谱学被应用于当前的科学问题和外部报告和出版物中的结果。

With this award, the Chemistry of Life Processes Program in the Chemistry Division and the Molecular Biophysics program in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) support Dr. Codrina V. Popescu at Ursinus College for research in Mossbauer spectroscopy conducted with undergraduate students. Research ranges from studies of small-molecule iron (Fe) compounds to the exploration of novel Fe sites in proteins. The expected scientific outcomes of this research are: (1) elucidation of electronic structures for new iron-based hydrogen electrocatalysts and models for the hydrogenase enzymes, including low-spin Fe(I), for which spectroscopic benchmarks are scarce; (2) correlation of structural and spectroscopic changes in model complexes for the hydrogenases and other biomimetic compounds; (3) characterization of the active site of the dual function hemoglobin-peroxidase enzyme dehaloperoxidase from A. ornata and of models for catalytic intermediates in ring-cleaving dioxygenases. Iron is the most abundant transition metal in biological systems. Iron proteins and enzymes are involved in life processes, such as oxidation, detoxification, hydrogen and nitrogen metabolism. Mossbauer spectroscopy can bring insight into the electronic structure of iron compounds, often allowing us to elucidate the nature of the active sites of enzymes directly, or by probing small-molecule models, which may be used as catalysts. Frontier problems in fundamental research have implications for environmental problems, such as the need for cleaner energy sources and dealing with pollution. From details of Mossbauer spectra we are attempting to learn how iron is used to perform vastly different feats of chemistry in environmentally benign ways. These interdisciplinary projects are of broad current interest for fundamental science and potential technological applications, from alternative fuels (hydrogenase model complexes) to catalysis (biomimetics), and environmental bioremediation (dehaloperoxidase). Through its interdisciplinary collaborative nature, this research has impact on the projects of collaborators from four other institutions and allows the undergraduates at Ursinus College to interact with students and faculty from these other research groups. The research promotes a close relationship between mentor and students, who are active in all the steps of scientific discovery, from generating hypotheses to interpreting the spectroscopic parameters needed to elucidate new electronic structures. This undergraduate research training and education program fosters the students' growth and independence through advanced degrees, preparing them for STEM careers in teaching and research. It also provides interdisciplinary projects for a diverse pool of students, in which hands-on spectroscopy is applied to current scientific problems and results in external presentations and publications.