Prasad L. Polavarapu of Vanderbilt University has support from the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program to continue his spectral studies using vibrational circular dichroism. During the three-year award period, he will undertake the following investigations: a) the elucidation of guest-host interactions for molecules encapsulated in cyclodextrin cavities; b) the determination of absolute configuration of chiral suboxides; c) the determination of structural changes in peptides; d) the determination of the structure of bioactive peptides in membrane environments; e) the structural characterization of peptides that adopt b-hairpin structures; and f) the determination of conformations of chiral herbicides. The principal investigator will also undertake ab initio theoretical calculations in order to fully analyze the experimental observations.
These studies will advance knowledge and understanding in a number of fields: chemical, biochemical and environmental. The activities will not only advance scientific knowledge in these areas but also promote training, teaching and learning. One of the more practical impacts of this work will be in the development and design of new herbicides with greater specificity and cost-effectiveness.
