MRI: ACQUISITION OF A PULSED ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE SPECTROMETER TO AID BIOPHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

该奖项由重大研究仪器(MRI)和化学研究仪器和设施(CRIF)计划支持。匹兹堡大学的苏尼尔·萨克塞纳教授和他的同事正在获得一台X/Q波段脉冲电子顺磁共振(EPR)光谱仪。该仪器允许在各种领域进行研究，例如那些提供对具有未配对电子的生物相关物种如何行为的洞察。该仪器还允许研究人员进行高级环境研究。一般来说，EPR光谱仪可以提供有关分子和固态材料的几何和电子结构的详细信息。它被用来获取有关未配对电子(自由基)寿命的信息--一种短寿命、高活性的物种--参与有价值的化学转化。许多研究生和本科生都在使用这种仪器。该光谱仪将脉冲EPR仪器的使用范围扩大到宾夕法尼亚州一所四年制大学(威斯敏斯特学院)和一所以非裔美国人为主的机构(菲斯克大学)的本科生。该光谱仪进一步发展了地区性的EPR卓越中心，从而对整个三州地区的研究基础设施产生了广泛的影响。目前的用户包括匹兹堡大学、卡内基梅隆大学、俄亥俄州立大学、菲斯克大学和威斯敏斯特学院的团体。这项研究的结果通过研讨会向高中教师迅速传播研究思想，帮助实现高中课程的现代化。光谱仪被用在课堂上，让学生接触到生物物理学的现代思想。这台EPR光谱仪加强了各级的研究和教育。它可以灵敏地描绘蛋白质和大分子中主链和自旋标记的运动，并能够进行高分辨率测量，以确定对大分子结构和构象动力学的限制。该光谱仪还可以区分金属-蛋白质相互作用，并能够确定瞬时和稳定自由基的身份。

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Programs. Professor Sunil Saxena from University of Pittsburgh and colleagues are acquiring an X-/Q-band pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer. This instrument allows research in a variety of fields such as those that provide insight on how biologically relevant species with unpaired electrons behave. The instrument also allows researchers to conduct advanced environmental studies. In general, an EPR spectrometer yields detailed information on the geometric and electronic structure of molecular and solid state materials. It is used to obtain information about the lifetimes of unpaired electrons (free radicals) - a short-lived, highly reactive species - involved in valuable chemical transformations. A number of graduate and undergraduate students use the instrument. This spectrometer expands access to pulsed EPR instrumentation to undergraduates at a 4-year college in Pennsylvania (Westminster) College) and a predominantly African American institution (Fisk University). The spectrometer furthers the development of an EPR Center of Excellence that is regional in nature, thus having a broad impact in research infrastructure for the entire tri-state area. Current users include groups at University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Ohio State University, Fisk University and Westminster College. The results of the research help modernize the high-school curriculum by rapid dissemination of research ideas to high-school teachers via workshops. The spectrometer is used in classes to expose students to modern ideas in biophysics. This EPR spectrometer enhances research and education at all levels. It allows sensitive delineation of backbone versus spin label motions in proteins and macromolecules ,and enables high resolution measurements to determine constraints on macromolecular structure and conformational dynamics. The spectrometer also allows discrimination of metal-protein interactions and enables the determination of the identity of transient and stable radicals.