MRI: Acquisition of a circular dichroism spectropolarimeter for research and training of undergraduates at Gettysburg College

MRI：购买圆二色性分光偏振仪，用于葛底斯堡学院本科生的研究和培训

• 批准号: 1725534
• 负责人: Shelli Frey
• 金额: $ 11.21万
• 依托单位: Gettysburg College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-08-01 至 2020-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1725534&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; circular; dichroism; spectropolarimeter

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation (CRIF) programs. Professor Shelli Frey from Gettysburg College and colleagues Kurt Andresen, Katherine Buettner and Lucas Thompson have acquired a circular dichroism (CD) spectrometer. Many chemical and biological molecules are chiral (having structures that are not superimposable - like our hands). Chiral molecules that are prevalent in living organisms can exist in two forms. These forms can be described as having left-handed or right-handed conformations. A CD spectrometer can determine which form or whether a mixture of both forms is present. The spectrometer can follow changes as the chiral molecule binds to another molecule (ligand), rearranges its structure, or reacts (perhaps with a drug or an antibody). Therefore, CD spectroscopy is suitable for probing protein (or other macromolecular) structures or changes to structures due to environmental conditions. CD spectroscopy has been widely used for three types of measurements: identifying the structure of proteins, studying the geometry changes during folding and unfolding of proteins, and determining the energies involved in binding interactions and protein unfolding. This spectrometer is used by undergraduates. While being trained to use this important tool, the research experience prepares the students for future careers and advanced degrees in medical and scientific fields. The instrument is also used by the NSF funded STEM Scholars program, which fosters a sense of community for students of diverse backgrounds with an interest in science fields. The acquisition of this spectropolarimeter opens new paths of research for students and faculty, and it helps students see more of the interconnected nature of science through the interdisciplinary projects. Students have access to this instrumentation in their courses, ultimately resulting in researchers prepared to enter graduate school or careers in the sciences.This award of a circular dichroism spectrometer is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as:(a) developing titanium and vanadium binding sites in small proteins to determine secondary structure and study DNA cleavage, (b) assembling gold nanorods with electrostatically adsorbed poly-polyl-lysine to understand how molecular structure can translate into control over chiral nanoparticle assemblies, and (c) studying the folding of the nucleosome to give insight into how DNA in the nucleosome can interact with other biological molecules in vivo.

该奖项由主要研究仪器（MRI）和化学研究仪器（CRIF）计划支持。来自葛底斯堡学院的Shelli Frey教授及其同事Kurt Andresen、凯瑟琳Buettner和Lucas Thompson获得了一台圆二色性（CD）光谱仪。许多化学和生物分子是手性的（具有不可重叠的结构-就像我们的手）。在生物体中普遍存在的手性分子可以以两种形式存在。这些形式可以被描述为具有左手或右手构象。CD光谱仪可以确定哪种形式或是否存在两种形式的混合物。光谱仪可以跟踪手性分子与另一个分子（配体）结合，重新排列其结构或反应（可能与药物或抗体）的变化。因此，CD光谱适合探测蛋白质（或其他大分子）结构或由于环境条件引起的结构变化。CD光谱已被广泛用于三种类型的测量：识别蛋白质的结构，研究蛋白质折叠和展开过程中的几何变化，以及确定涉及结合相互作用和蛋白质展开的能量。这台分光计是大学生用的。在接受培训使用这一重要工具的同时，研究经验为学生未来的职业生涯和医学和科学领域的高级学位做好了准备。该仪器也被NSF资助的STEM学者计划使用，该计划为不同背景的学生培养了对科学领域感兴趣的社区意识。该分光偏振仪的收购为学生和教师开辟了新的研究途径，并帮助学生通过跨学科项目更多地了解科学的相互关联性。学生可以在他们的课程中使用这种仪器，最终使研究人员准备进入研究生院或科学事业。圆二色光谱仪的这一奖项旨在加强各级研究和教育，特别是在以下领域：（a）开发小蛋白质中的钛和钒结合位点以确定二级结构和研究DNA切割，（B）将金纳米棒与静电吸附的聚-聚-赖氨酸，以了解分子结构如何转化为对手性纳米颗粒组装的控制，以及（c）研究核小体的折叠，以深入了解核小体中的DNA如何与体内其他生物分子相互作用。

项目成果

DNA Cleavage by a De Novo Designed Protein–Titanium Complex

通过 De Novo 设计的蛋白质钛复合物进行 DNA 切割

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c01707
• 发表时间: 2020
• 期刊: Inorganic Chemistry
• 影响因子: 4.6
• 作者: Paredes, Alexander;Loh, Brittany M.;Peduzzi, Olivia M.;Reig, Amanda J.;Buettner, Katherine M.
• 通讯作者: Buettner, Katherine M.