Award Abstract #0820845
MRI: Acquisition of a Circular Dichroism Spectrophotometer

NSF Org:	CHE Division of Chemistry
Initial Amendment Date:	July 30, 2008
Latest Amendment Date:	September 18, 2009
Award Number:	0820845
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Carlos A. Murillo CHE Division of Chemistry MPS Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Start Date:	August 1, 2008
Expires:	July 31, 2011 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$132515
Investigator(s):	Richard Sheardy rsheardy@twu.edu (Principal Investigator) B Mark Britt (Co-Principal Investigator) Mary Anderson (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Texas Woman's University BOX 425619 T W U STATION Denton, TX 76204 940/898-3375
NSF Program(s):	MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):	biot, OTHR, 9183, 0000
Program Element Code(s):	I331, 1189

ABSTRACT

The Department of Chemistry and Physics at Texas Woman's University will acquire a circular dichroism spectrophotometer with this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. Principal Investigator Sheardy will investigate the influence of sequence and environment of G-quadruplex nucleic acid secondary structures. The goals of co-PI Anderson's research are to understand the function and mechanism of human Glutathione Synthetase. The primary purpose of co-PI Britt's proposed research is to thermodynamically characterize the transition states and conformational changes of several non-denatured enzymes.

A circular dichroism spectrophotometer will produce spectral data that provides information on molecular structure and especially the conformations of bio-molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids. The instrument will be used in research by graduate and undergraduate students. The theory and practice of circular dichroism spectroscopy will be incorporated into the undergraduate teaching curriculum. This training will prepare students to utilize this sophisticated technique in various careers, especially in chemical, biological and health related fields.

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