Analytical Chemistry Seminar

Analytical & Environmental Chemistry Division and Atmospheric Chemistry Program Seminar

Jointly sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CIRES, and the Environmental Program

Cell Membrane Conditions on C-Reactive Protein Binding

by Mitchell Alton, First Year Graduate Student - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important human protein involved in identification of apoptotic (dying) cells and acts as a general marker of inflammation. CRP functions by binding to the lipid, phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is present in all cells. However CRP does not bind to normal, healthy cells. It is theorized that CRP has different binding affinities for healthy versus dying cells due to differences in membrane curvatures and the presence of oxidized lipids in dying cells. Additionally, CRP has two different conformations that affect binding affinities. I will discuss how these conditions affect the binding of CRP to membranes.

Measurements of Peroxy Radical Loss Rates on Laboratory Surfaces

by Benjamin Deming, First Year Graduate Student - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder

Peroxy radicals are important intermediates in the oxidative processing of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere. Numerous instruments to measure atmospheric concentrations of these short-lived species are in active development. Wall losses of these compounds should be considered when designing such an instrument due to losses within the inlet. In this work, an ECHAMP peroxy radical detector was used to determine the wall-loss rates of HO 2 , CH 3 O 2 , C 2 H 5 O 2 , and isoprene peroxy radicals on PFA Teflon, quartz, halocarbon wax, and other materials. In addition to concentration and relative humidity dependencies, the use of FEP vs PFA Teflon was investigated.