RUI: Magnetic circular dichroism of dicobalt(II) enzymes

通过这个奖项，生命过程计划的化学资助教授詹姆斯Larrabee在米德尔伯里学院进行三个金属水解酶的基础研究使用磁性圆二色性（MCD）光谱。这些金属水解酶能够使化学战剂解毒，因此对社会具有当前的重要性。 MCD光谱允许研究人员监测酶的活性位点在附着到纳米颗粒和/或基因修饰时发生的变化，并提供有关其活性变化的化学来源的线索。该研究为开发改良的生物修复剂提供了科学依据。 这项受资助的研究是由米德尔伯里学院的本科生进行的。研究经验加强本科生的兴趣，进一步他们的科学教育和追求科学事业。该研究项目的目的是将三种金属水解酶连接到二氧化硅，氧化铝或磁铁矿纳米颗粒上。 在Larrabee实验室进行的早期研究是关于游离酶，而不是附着在纳米颗粒上的酶。纳米粒子上酶的附着可以提高酶的活性和稳定性。Larrabee研究小组还研究了具有增强活性的酶的突变形式。这三种酶的活性位点在化学和光谱上是相似的。Larrabee教授的研究小组研究了含有Co（II）离子的酶。 MCD光谱用于研究由酶与纳米颗粒的结合或突变引起的金属环境的变化。该研究成果可用于使这些酶作为生物修复剂更有用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。

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.