UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Grant: $470,000 - National Science Foundation - Jun. 19, 2009
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Award Description: ' The Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry supports work by Professors Carolyn Cassady and David Dixon at the University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa aimed at enhanced understanding of the gas-phase chemistry of deprotonated amino acid amides and peptides, in order ultimately to provide new approaches to mass spectrometric structure elucidation supporting proteomics and related studies. Combined experimental and computational efforts will provide insight into fragmentation and thermodynamic properties. The work exposes a diverse group of both graduate and undergraduate students to important interdisciplinary research areas, providing them with tools that will prepare them to contribute to a wide range of chemical biology challenges. Both PIs have also been actively engaged in outreach activities, exposing large numbers of students to the powerful computational and analytical tools utilized in their laboratories.'
Project Description: Two graduate research assistants, funded through the grant, are now working on the project. The experimental work related to determining structures for the c-ion series that forms during negative mode peptide dissociation by mass spectrometry (aim 3) is currently underway. This work is confirming our hypothesis of cyclic c-ion structures. Computational studies to elucidate a mechanism and ion structures are underway. During the summer of 2009, an undergraduate researcher funded by the University of Alabama's NSF REU program began calculations on the gas-phase acidities and structures of amino acids (aim 1). In addition, a graduate research assistant has been synthesizing the tripeptides to be used in the backbone deprotonation site studies (aim 2). We are in discussions with vendors over the electrospray ionization source that is to be purchased with grant funds. We're looking for a source that is compatible with our existing Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer; it needs to be flexible, user-friendly, and cost-effective. This source will be purchased in the next quarter.
Jobs Summary: faculty member and graduate student (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jun. 19, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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