Laser Probes of the Spectroscopy and Dynamics of Flexible, Gas-phase Biomolecules

在该项目中，由化学部实验物理化学计划资助，Zwier将对在气相超声膨胀中冷却的柔性生物分子（二肽，三肽，三酰胺和缩肽）的构象偏好和异构化动力学进行实验研究。 这些分子足够大，具有显著的构象复杂性，以弥合小分子与大分子（如蛋白质）的复杂性之间的差距。 紫外发色团将被纳入分子中，从而能够通过激光诱导荧光或共振双光子电离光谱进行灵敏检测。 用红外-紫外空穴填充光谱和红外诱导布居转移光谱研究了构象异构化的动力学。 这项工作的结果将适用于蛋白质折叠的问题，并可能提供有关的激光控制的分子形状的信息，与可能的应用到各种领域，包括信息存储。 研究生和本科生将参与这项研究。 因此，他们将获得宝贵的经验，为深造或进入科学/技术工作队伍做准备。

In this project, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry program of the Chemistry Division, Zwier will conduct experimental research on the conformational preferences and isomerization dynamics of flexible biomolecules (dipeptide, tripeptide, triamide, and depsipeptide) cooled in a gas phase supersonic expansion. These molecules are sufficiently large to have significant conformational complexity to bridge the gap between small molecules and the complexity of large ones such as proteins. An ultraviolet chromophore will be incorporated in the molecules, thereby enabling sensitive detection via laser induced fluorescence or resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy. The dynamics of conformational isomerization will be studied with IR-UV hole filling spectroscopy and IR-induced population transfer spectroscopy. The results of this work will be applicable to problem of protein folding and may provide information about the laser control of molecular shape, with possible applications to a variety of areas including information storage. Graduate and undergraduate students will participate in this research. They will thereby acquire valuable experience in preparation for advanced studies or for entry into the scientific/technological workforce.