MRI: Acquisition of a Circular Dichroism Spectrometer for Research and Training of Undergraduate Students

通过主要研究仪器（MRI）、化学研究仪器和设施（CRIF）以及生命过程化学（CLP）项目的奖励，卡尔文学院的Kumar Sinniah教授和他的同事David Benson、Douglas Vander Griend、Rachael Baker和Jiyan Ma获得了一个圆二色（CD）光谱仪。许多化学和生物分子是手性的（具有不重叠的结构——像我们的手）。在生物体中普遍存在的手性分子可以以两种形式存在。这些可以被描述为具有左手或右手构象。CD光谱仪可以确定哪种形式或两者的混合物是否存在。光谱仪可以跟踪手性分子与另一个分子（配体）结合，重新排列其结构或反应（可能与药物或抗体）的变化。因此，CD光谱非常适合探测蛋白质（或其他大分子）结构或由于环境条件或配体结合而导致的结构变化。CD光谱学已广泛应用于蛋白质的三种测量方法：鉴定蛋白质的结构，研究蛋白质折叠和展开过程中的构象变化，以及确定蛋白质的结合相互作用和展开过程中的能量学。这台光谱仪是大学生用的。在接受使用这一重要工具的培训的同时，研究经历为学生未来的职业生涯和医学和科学领域的高级学位做好了准备。该奖项旨在加强本科生的教育和培训，并促进研究，特别是在以下领域：(a)研究g -四重体DNA与胰岛素之间的结合相互作用，(b)测量远紫外和近红外圆二色性，以了解半胱氨酸-酪氨酸翻译后修饰对蛋白质稳定性和功能的贡献，(c)研究蛋白质和肽系统的折叠和展开热力学，(d)研究Ras单泛素化的功能作用，(e)监测折叠、稳定性。以及各种朊蛋白突变体的构象转换。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI), the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) as well as the Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) programs, Professor Kumar Sinniah from Calvin College and colleagues David Benson, Douglas Vander Griend, Rachael Baker and Jiyan Ma have acquired a circular dichroism (CD) spectrometer. Many chemical and biological molecules are chiral (having structures that are not superimposable - like our hands). Chiral molecules that are prevalent in living organisms can exist in two forms. These can be described as having left-handed or right-handed conformations. A CD spectrometer can determine which form or whether a mixture of both is present. The spectrometer can follow changes as the chiral molecule binds to another molecule (ligand), rearranges its structure, or reacts (perhaps with a drug or an antibody). Therefore, CD spectroscopy is ideally suitable for probing protein (or other macromolecular) structures or changes to structures due to environmental conditions or to the binding of a ligand. CD spectroscopy has been widely used for three types of measurements: identifying the structure of proteins, studying the conformational changes during folding and unfolding of proteins, and determining the energetics involved in binding interactions and protein unfolding. This spectrometer is used by undergraduates. While being trained to use this important tool, the research experience prepares the students for future careers and advanced degrees in medical and scientific fields. This award is aimed at enhancing education and training of undergraduates and advancing research, especially in areas such as: (a) investigating the binding interaction between G-quadruplex DNA and insulin, (b) measuring the far ultra-violet and the near-infrared circular dichroism to understand the contribution of cysteine-tyrosine post-translational modifications on protein stability and function, (c) investigating the folding and unfolding thermodynamics of proteins and peptide systems, (d) investigating the functional role of Ras monoubiquitination, and (e) monitoring the folding, stability, and conformational conversion of various prion protein mutants.