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

MRI：购买圆二色性光谱仪用于本科生的研究和培训

• 批准号: 1623941
• 负责人: Kumar Sinniah
• 金额: $ 8.92万
• 依托单位: Calvin University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-08-15 至 2019-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1623941&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Circular; Dichroism; Spectrometer

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.

通过重大研究工具（MRI）的奖项，化学研究工具和设施（CRIF）以及生命过程的化学工具（CLP）计划，卡尔文学院的Kumar Sinniah教授和同事David Benson，Doglas Vander Griend，Rachael Baker，Rachael Baker和Jiyan Ma获得了循环Dichroism（CD）Specter（CD）Specter（CD）。许多化学和生物分子是手性的（具有不可叠加的结构 - 就像我们的手一样）。在生物体中普遍存在的手性分子可以两种形式存在。这些可以描述为具有左撇子或右手构象。 CD光谱仪可以确定哪种形式或是否存在两者的混合物。由于手性分子与另一个分子（配体）结合，重新排列其结构或反应（也许与药物或抗体）时，光谱仪可以遵循变化。 因此，CD光谱法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的结合而导致的结构变化。 CD光谱已被广泛用于三种测量：识别蛋白质的结构，研究折叠和蛋白质的折叠过程中的构象变化，并确定与结合相互作用和蛋白质展开有关的能量学。本科生使用该光谱仪。 在接受使用这种重要工具的培训期间，研究经验为学生提供了未来职业和医学和科学领域的高级学位的准备。 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 （d）研究RAS单泛素化的功能作用，以及（e）监测各种prion蛋白突变体的折叠，稳定性和构象转换。