MRI: Acquisition of an Isothermal Titration Calorimeter for the Characterization of Molecular Interactions to Support Research and Undergraduate Education

从主要研究仪器(MRI)计划(MRI)和化学研究仪器和设施(CRIF)计划获得这一奖项后，凯特琳大学将获得一台等温扫描量热仪(ITC)。等温滴定量热法已成为获得有关分子相互作用的定量热力学信息的有力手段。它通过灵敏地测量一种化合物在使用另一种化合物滴定时产生或吸收的热来实现这一点。这有助于了解化合物之间相互作用的强度和结构。蛋白质、核酸、脂类、小分子、金属、纳米颗粒和溶解或悬浮在水中或选定的非水溶剂中的聚合物之间的结合是可访问的，使ITC具有极高的通用性。在凯特琳大学，本科生也将在他们的研究项目中使用这种仪器。它将被纳入实验室课程，为学生提供几个学科的培训。它将在演示中使用，并在初中生外展计划中实际使用。该建议旨在加强研究，特别是在以下领域：(A)研究蛋白质-小分子结合以解释耶尔森纳磷酸酶YopH的分子进化；(B)阐明儿茶素、蛋白质-金属络合物结合的潜在细胞色素C依赖的心血管疾病保护机制；(C)确定血清蛋白质与抗癌Ru(II)-单芳烃配合物的亲和力；(D)确定已知可调节基因表达的布鲁氏锥虫蛋白的RNA序列特异性的蛋白质-RNA结合，以及(E)研究小分子-纳米颗粒结合，以了解三水乙酸钠的热性质，以便在非电动孵化毯中使用。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (MRI) and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, Kettering University will acquire an isothermal scanning calorimeter (ITC). Isothermal titration calorimetry has become a powerful technique for obtaining quantitative thermodynamic information about molecular interactions. It does so by sensitively measuring heat generated or absorbed by a compound upon titration using another compound. This leads to understanding the strength and structure of the interaction between the compounds. Binding between proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, small molecules, metals, nanoparticles, and polymers dissolved or suspended in aqueous or select non-aqueous solvents are accessible, making ITC extremely versatile. At Kettering University, the instrument will also be used by undergraduate students in their research projects. It will be incorporated into laboratory courses to provide training to students in several disciplines. It will be used in demonstrations and in hands on usage in outreach programs for middle and high school students. The proposal is aimed at enhancing research especially in areas such as (a) investigating protein-small molecule binding to explain the molecular evolution of the Yersina phosphatase YopH; (b) elucidating potential cytochrome c-dependent cardiovascular disease protection mechanisms for catechins, protein-metal complex binding; (c) determining the affinity of blood serum proteins for anti-cancer Ru(II)-mono-arene complexes; (d) determining protein-RNA binding for RNA sequence specificity of a T. brucei protein known to regulate gene expression and (e) studying small molecule-nanoparticle binding to understand the thermal properties of sodium acetate trihydrates for their use in non-electric incubating blankets.