MRI/RUI: Acquisition of Isothermal Titration and Differential Scanning MicroCalorimeters for Chemistry and Biology Research

在重大研究仪器(MRI)计划的支持下，科尔比学院的Stephen Dunham、Paul Greenwood和Dasan Thamattoor将获得一台用于化学和生物研究的等温滴定热量计(ITC)和差示扫描微量热计(DSC)。将利用这一设备的研究项目包括a)修饰的寡核苷酸的结构研究；b)修饰的DNA适配子的金属离子结合亲和力和稳定性；c)DNA适配子与生物靶标的结合亲和力；d)线虫囊中蛋白质的离子结合亲和力和结构特征；e)多氧[n]紫苏烷的离子结合选择性；f)H-拮抗剂的计算机辅助分子设计和客体化学；以及g)允许植物自交受精的核糖核酸酶突变体的结构分析。量热法在现代分析化学中是一种非常有用的工具。量热分析用于测量分子相互作用和反应过程中发生的热能(热)交换。因此，它可以提供一种非常可靠和灵敏的方法来确定材料的热力学性质，如液体和固体样品的热容变化。科尔比学院是一所本科院校，这些工具的可获得性将对本科生的研究产生强烈影响。此外，缅因州目前还没有商用ITC和DSC微量热计。

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, Stephen Dunham, Paul Greenwood and Dasan Thamattoor of Colby College will acquire an isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) and differential scanning microcalorimeters (DSC) for chemistry and biology research. Research projects that will exploit this equipment include a) structural studies of modified oligonucleotides; b) metal ion binding affinities and stabilities of modified DNA aptamers; c) binding affinities of DNA aptamers to biological targets; d) ion binding affinities and structural characterization of proteins in nematocysts; e) ion binding selectivity of polyoxa[n]peristylanes; f) computer aided molecular design and guest-host chemistry of H2-antagonists; and g) structural analysis of RNase mutants that allow self-fertilization in plants. Calorimetry is an extremely useful tool in modern analytical chemistry. Calorimetric analysis is used to measure the thermal energy (heat) exchange that occurs during molecular interactions and reactions. Thus it can provide a very reliable and sensitive method for determining the thermodynamic properties of materials such as changes in heat capacity of liquid and solid samples. Colby College is an undergraduate institution, and the availability of these instruments will have a strong impact on undergraduate research. In addition, commercial ITC and DSC microcalorimeters are currently not available in the state of Maine.