Thermochemistry, reaction dynamics and conformational changes that accompany the collisional activation of peptide ternary complexes and recombinant tagged proteins
Our research uses ion mobility – mass spectrometry methods to examine the metal ion reactivity of alternative metal binding peptides.
Abstract
The research projects focus on selective metal ion recognition and redox activity of a series of alternative metal binding (amb) oligopeptides. The research combines ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) molecular modeling to investigate the metal ion selectivity, conformational structures and redox activity of these amb oligopeptides. These peptides have applications for protein purification using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), as therapeutics for diseases caused by elevated metal ion levels, and as inhibitors for enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). The research uses IM-MS gas-phase techniques and DFT in silico techniques to gain crucial information on the binding characteristics, redox activities, and conformational variations of the amb peptides. The results from these projects contribute fundamental knowledge on which sequence properties, substituent groups, and binding sites are favorable for specific metal ion binding and uncover the accompanying redox and oligomerization reactions. Dr. Riccardo Spezia from Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, Sorbonne Université, collaborates with the DFT molecular modeling. Dr. Venu Cheriyath from the Biology Department of A&M-Commerce also collaborates with 1) testing the amb peptides as tags in protein expression for their potential use in IMAC protein purification and 2) testing the amb peptides as potential inhibitors of MMPs for use as inhibitors of cancer metastasis. All students involved in the research will gain knowledge and experience of cutting-edge instrumental, biochemical and theoretical techniques and share their findings at regional/national scientific meetings and in peer-reviewed publications. The primary goal is to engage, encourage, and retain students underrepresented in science, specifically at the critical intersection of chemistry, biology and physics.
