This grant in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program is in the area of mass spectrometry of biomolecules. Professor Lebrilla and his students will use an external source Fourier transform mass spectrometer, FTMS, to measure gas-phase basicities of protonated biomolecules. Semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations will be used to determine the sites of protonation in oligosaccharides. In addition, hydrogen/deuterium exchange reactions with chiral alcohols will be used to determine the exact configuration of different exchange sites on the oligosaccharides. The goal of the proposed research is to increase our understanding of intramolecular interactions and proton migration pathways in gas-phase biomolecules. %%% Professor Lebrilla proposes to use Fourier transform mass spectrometry to elucidate the structure of gas-phase biomolecules. The research involves mass spectrometry, molecular orbital calculations and hydrogen/deuterium exchange reactions.
