CAREER: Protein Structure, Dynamics, and Folding via Ultrafast Multidimensional Infrared Spectroscopy

University Of California-Irvine, Irvine CA

Investigators

Abstract

In this CAREER award, co-funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division and the Molecular Biophysics Program of the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Prof. Nien-Hui Ge of the University of California, Irvine and her post-doctoral and graduate research students will probe the conformational distributions of peptides using multidimensional infrared spectroscopy. The ultimate goal of this research is to uncover the details of how proteins fold and unfold. In addition to her research activities, Prof. Ge will construct an online infrared resource for use in education. The resource will include a database of both ordinary and multidimensional infrared spectra. The resource's most unique feature will be the incorporation of a multidimensional infrared simulator and interactive tutorials designed for use by non-experts. The audience for the online resource includes undergraduate and graduate physical chemistry students, as well as members of the biophysical research community interested in learning how to apply the methods of multidimensional infrared spectroscopy to their own research problems.