Upgrade of the EPR Facility at Texas A&M University

Texas A&M Research Foundation, College Station TX

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, Texas A&M University will acquire an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectrometer. EPR spectroscopy will play a vital role in the studies of a) mixed-valence dimetallic complexes as models for biological hydrogen activation processes; b) metal-RNA interactions, metal-peptide complexes and dinuclear manganese (II) centers; c) the magnetic properties of clusters and materials; d) tetrahydropterin-dependent enzymes; e) boron-boron and boron-carbon one-electron sigma bonds; and f) EPR of acetyl-CoA synthase. An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer is an instrument used to obtain information about the molecular and electronic structure of molecules. It may also be used to obtain information about the lifetimes of free radicals which are often essential for the initiation of tumor growth and/or a variety of chemical reactions. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas, in particular biological chemistry and materials sciences.