RUI: Magnetic circular dichroism of dicobalt(II) enzymes

通过该奖项，生命过程化学项目资助米德尔伯里学院的James Larrabee教授使用磁性圆二色（MCD）光谱对三种金属水解酶进行基础研究。这些金属水解酶能够解毒化学战剂，因此对当今社会具有重要意义。MCD光谱学使研究人员能够监测当这些酶附着在纳米粒子上和/或经过基因修饰时，它们活性位点发生的变化，它还提供了它们活性变化的化学来源的线索。本研究可为研制改良的生物修复剂提供科学依据。这项受资助的研究由米德尔伯里学院的本科生进行。研究经历加强了本科生对进一步科学教育和追求科学事业的兴趣。该研究项目的目的是将三种金属水解酶附着在二氧化硅、氧化铝或磁铁矿纳米颗粒上。Larrabee实验室进行的早期研究是针对游离酶，而不是附着在纳米颗粒上的酶。酶与纳米颗粒的结合可以提高酶的活性和稳定性。Larrabee研究小组还研究了增强活性的酶的突变形式。这三种酶的活性位点在化学上和光谱上是相似的。Larrabee教授的研究小组以含有Co（II）离子的形式研究酶。MCD光谱用于研究酶与纳米颗粒结合或突变引起的金属环境的变化。研究结果可用于使这些酶更有效地作为生物修复剂。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Through this award, the Chemistry of Life Processes Program is funding Professor James Larrabee at Middlebury College to carry out fundamental studies of three metallohydrolases using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy. These metallohydrolases are able to detoxify chemical warfare agents and thus are of current importance for society. MCD spectroscopy allows the researchers to monitor changes that occur in the active sites of the enzymes when they are attached to nanoparticles and/or genetically modified and it provides clues about the chemical origins of the changes in their activity. This research could provide a scientific basis for creating improved bio-remediation agents. The funded research is conducted at Middlebury College by undergraduate students. Research experiences strengthen the interest of undergraduate students in furthering their science education and the pursuit in careers in science. The aim of the research project is to attach three metallohydrolases to silica, alumina or magnetite nanoparticles. Earlier studies conducted in the Larrabee lab were on the free enzymes, not on the enzymes attached to nanoparticles. The enzyme attachment to nanoparticles could improve both the activity and stability of the enzymes. The Larrabee research group also studies mutant forms of the enzymes that have enhanced activity. The active sites of the three enzymes are chemically and spectroscopically similar. The research group of Professor Larrabee studies the enzymes in the form in which they contain Co(II) ions. MCD spectroscopy is used to study the changes of the metal environment caused by the binding of the enzymes to the nanoparticles or by mutations. The outcome of the research could be used to make these enzymes more useful as bio-remediation agents.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.