School of Biology/Centre for Biomolecular Sciences

University of St. Andrews

EPR Methods and Synthesis of Model Systems

Biological EPR-Spectroscopy

 

In the EPR methodological part of our research, we synthesize organic/inorganic model systems suitable to test the applicability and limitations of newly developed pulse sequences. In particular we want to focus on FRET related EPR methods capable to measure nanometer distances as e.g. Pulsed Electron-Electron Double Resonance (PELDOR). With respect to PELDOR we would for example like to test if it is possible to count the constituting number of monomers in mixtures of complexes and whether it can be applied to biomacromolecules in liquid solution (cooperation with G.M. Smith, St Andrews).

 

             Synthesized Polyradicals                                                      PELDOR Spin-Counting                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

For a review on PELDOR see: Schiemann, O. & Prisner, T. F. „Applications of electron paramagnetic resonance to distance measurements in biomolecules“ Quaterly Reviews of Biophysics 2007, 40, 1-53.

For a PELDOR ruler for DNA/RNA see: Schiemann, O.; Piton, N.; Mu Y.; Stock, G.; Engels. J. W.; Prisner, T. F. „A PELDOR Based Nanometer Distance Ruler for Oligonucleotides“ J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 5722.

For Spin-Counting by PELDOR see: Bode, B.; Margraf, D.; Dürner, G.; Prisner, T. F.; Schiemann, O. „Counting the Monomers in Nanometer Sized Oligomers“ J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 6736-6745.

For detection of weak exchange coupling constants see: Weber, A.; Schiemann, O.; Bode, B.; Prisner, T. F. „PELDOR at S- and X-Band Frequencies and the Separation of Exchange Coupling from Dipolar Coupling“ J. Magn. Res. 2002, 157, 277.

monomer

dimer

trimer

tetramer

Centres of Magnetic Resonance and Biomolecular Sciences/Schools of Biology, Physics and Chemistry