Activation of enzymic reactions by metal ions; biophysical applications of spectroscopy
The
research activities in our laboratory are concentrated in the area of
mechanistic enzymology. Within this area there is an emphasis on
understanding the various means by which inorganic cations serve as
obligatory activators of enzyme catalyzed reactions. Enzymes exploit
the electronic charge and coordination properties of metal ions to
promote reactions of substrate molecules. Insight into the roles of
metal ions in the chemical activation of substrates comes from an
elucidation of the structures of enzymic complexes with natural
substrates, substrate analogues, specific inhibitors, and modified
forms of the enzyme. We are using various forms of spectroscopy as well
as X-ray crystallography to solve structures of enzyme substrate
complexes. We are also interested in detecting and characterizing free
radical intermediates in enzymic reactions.