Acquisition of Circular Dichroism Spectrometer

University Of South Alabama, Mobile AL

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the University of South Alabama will acquire a Circular Dichroism Spectrometer. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including a) CD spectroscopy of the solution structure of synthetic antifreeze polypeptides; b) conformational analysis of the heme-containing subunits of lumbricus hemoglobin; c) the role of sequence differences on the shape of the protein folding energy landscape; d) asymmetric catalysis; and e) exciton chirality investigations of isotopically substituted oligosaccharides. Circular dichroism spectroscopy is an extremely useful tool in modern analytical chemistry. It provides a very reliable and sensitive method for assigning absolute molecular configurations. The results from these studies will have a strong impact in biochemistry and other areas.