Dynamic Light Scattering Device for Molecular Characterization

全基因组序列信息的可用性为科学家们提供了蓝图，使他们能够对区分一种生物体与另一种生物体的补充因子进行编码。当这些遗传物质转化为生物分子时，这些因子以一种精确而又令人眼花缭乱的方式相互作用，以延续生命或引发发病机制。这些过程的核心是蛋白质。蛋白质是动态分子，发挥着从提供结构支持到在代谢过程中将分子转化为酶的基本作用。为了研究和表征蛋白质的功能，将蛋白质的分子特性（如它们的大小、形状和灵活性）与它们的作用机制联系起来通常是有用的。该提案要求支持引入动态光散射系统，该系统将使Wilfrid Laurier大学的研究人员能够表征蛋白质和其他重要生物活性分子的许多分子特性。该设备将支持生物化学和材料科学家研究小组寻求表征溶液中蛋白质，聚合物，胶束，碳水化合物和纳米颗粒的动态结构特性。此外，这个机会不仅将支持引入关键的分子表征工具，而且还将支持启动几个更先进的结构表征方法。

The availability of whole genome sequence information has equipped scientists with blueprints that encode the complement of factors that distinguish one organism from another. When translated from this genetic material into biomolecules, these factors interact in a precise, yet dazzling fashion, to perpetuate life or elicit pathogenesis. Central to many of these processes are proteins. Proteins are dynamic molecules that perform fundamental roles that range from providing structural support, to the conversion of molecules as enzymes during metabolic processes. In order to investigate and characterize the function of proteins, it is frequently useful to relate the molecular properties of proteins such as their size, shape and flexibility to their mechanisms of action. This proposal requests support for the introduction of a dynamic light scattering system that will allow researchers at Wilfrid Laurier University to characterize many of the molecular properties of proteins and other important bioactive molecules. This equipment will support biochemical and material scientist research groups seeking to characterize the dynamic structural properties of proteins, polymers, micelles, carbohydrates, and nanoparticles in solution. Additionally, not only will this opportunity support the introduction of a critical molecular characterization tool, but that it will also support the initiation of several more advanced structural characterization methods.