The Building Blocks of Life: The Factors Affecting a Helical Structure in Proteins
Poster Number
43
Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
Amino acids are peptide building blocks for protein synthesis. When amino acids are joined together by peptide bonds, they form polypeptides. The folding, twisting, and coiling of polypeptides form a protein. The purpose of this research is to synthesize polypeptides using amino acids cysteine and alanine with the Rink amide resin through solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to study the chemical properties of the alpha helical structure in peptides. The three peptides are Ala-Cys-Ala, Ala-Cys-(Ala)2, and Ala-Cys-(Ala)3. Each individual peptide was synthesized separately and successfully through the coupling reactions of amino acids to the Rink amide resin in a glass vessel. The peptides were then cleaved from the resin and purified. The peptides were examined by mass spectrometry to confirm its identities. Finally the peptide’s three-dimensional structure was analyzed by molecular modeling. The application of this research is to understand the nature of protein folding through the chemical properties of peptides. This research fosters my interest in understanding how microscopic synthesis and factors involve in the synthesis can affect proteins. This project gives me the opportunity to apply the knowledge that I have learned in class in an on going research project. It will give me a better understanding of why certain interactions carry out the way it does—further emphasizing the idea of shape following functions in the human body.
Location
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom B
Start Date
1-5-2010 1:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2010 3:00 PM
The Building Blocks of Life: The Factors Affecting a Helical Structure in Proteins
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom B
Amino acids are peptide building blocks for protein synthesis. When amino acids are joined together by peptide bonds, they form polypeptides. The folding, twisting, and coiling of polypeptides form a protein. The purpose of this research is to synthesize polypeptides using amino acids cysteine and alanine with the Rink amide resin through solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to study the chemical properties of the alpha helical structure in peptides. The three peptides are Ala-Cys-Ala, Ala-Cys-(Ala)2, and Ala-Cys-(Ala)3. Each individual peptide was synthesized separately and successfully through the coupling reactions of amino acids to the Rink amide resin in a glass vessel. The peptides were then cleaved from the resin and purified. The peptides were examined by mass spectrometry to confirm its identities. Finally the peptide’s three-dimensional structure was analyzed by molecular modeling. The application of this research is to understand the nature of protein folding through the chemical properties of peptides. This research fosters my interest in understanding how microscopic synthesis and factors involve in the synthesis can affect proteins. This project gives me the opportunity to apply the knowledge that I have learned in class in an on going research project. It will give me a better understanding of why certain interactions carry out the way it does—further emphasizing the idea of shape following functions in the human body.