With funding from the Organic Dynamics Program, Professor Romsted will investigate the chemical environment inside a matrix of polypeptides which have been assembled on a surfactant surface. In this endeavor, a molecular probe(benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate salt) will be coalesced as part of the assembly. When activated, the probe molecule will decompose to form covalent bonds with its nearest neighbors. In so doing, the chemical components near the probe molecule will be irreversibly trapped and can be measured quantitatively. Results of these experiments should provide, for the first time, quantitative concentrations of counterions, alcohols and waters of hydration inside polypeptide matrices. This is significant in that the chemical environment inside an assembly differs from that in the bulk solution. Since these cavities are where reactions occur, a better understanding of reactive region should benefit researchers who design new drugs and need to understand how reactions occur. These types of matrices are models for biological reaction assemblies such as membranes and micelles. Biological systems assemble molecular arrays to form cavities where reactions occur with ease. That is , the reactants and the charge distributions are prearranged so as to facilitate the reaction processes. Thus, a more thorough understanding of these reaction zones, which this project addresses, should provide scientists with the knowledge to make better drugs, to build artificial reaction zones and better cope with diseases. This proposed project has considerable potential and significance.
