9413023 Smith Description: This project supports the participation of a Pakistani scientist, Dr. M. Saleh Ajaz, from the H.E.J Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan, in a collaborative project with Dr. David L. Smith of the Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Department at Purdue University. The project is intended to isolate and determine the structures of certain proteins and natural products. Specifically, two important classes of proteins will be examined: casein isolated from camel milk, and hemoglobins from several species of birds. It is intended to locate sites of phosphorylation in the casein and to compare the three- dimensional structural features and dynamics of casein and hemoglobin from different species. The utility of new mass spectrometric ionization methods (electrospray and laser desorption) for determining the molecular weights of biologically active natural products that cannot be analyzed by conventional mass spectrometric methods will also be investigated. Scope: This project seeks to accomplish two objectives: the analysis of specific proteins using modern and innovative techniques; and familiarizing the Pakistani scientist with the modern techniques used in the U.S. to enable him to maintain a parallel research activity at the H.E.J. Institute in Pakistan, for joint work with the laboratory of Dr. Smith. The long- term parallel activities will be beneficial to both sides because of the access in Pakistan to different species, and their ability to do first-rate analytical chemistry research. The development of this long-term linkage meets the objectives of the Division of International Programs. ***
