Chemical modeling of Alcohol Metabolism, a field of major (and Miner) importance
Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemistry; Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Sinn, Ekkehard
Advisor's Department
Chemistry
Abstract
The metabolism of short chain alcohols is a vital process for various organisms, not just ethanol consumers. Enzymes like galactose oxidase (GOase) promote this by catalyzing the oxidation of the alcohols to aldehydes. GOase has copper at the active site but differs from most copper enzymes in having just one copper atom instead of two. This project focuses on a specific group of alcohol oxidizing reagents synthesized of copper Schiff bases to make compounds that model the half-way point of the oxidation. This cannot be done with the enzymes themselves. The purpose of this project is to make and study various unique mononuclear copper complexes, in order to propose a mechanism by which the oxidation is possible.
Biography
Tara is double majoring in Chemistry (Biochem Emphasis) and Biological Sciences with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is involved in the W. T. Schrenk Society (President), ASUM (Executive Board Member), Zeta Tau Alpha (assistant treasurer), Blue Key Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Academy, and Psi Chi.
Research Category
Natural Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Presentation Date
12 Apr 2006, 1:00 pm
Chemical modeling of Alcohol Metabolism, a field of major (and Miner) importance
The metabolism of short chain alcohols is a vital process for various organisms, not just ethanol consumers. Enzymes like galactose oxidase (GOase) promote this by catalyzing the oxidation of the alcohols to aldehydes. GOase has copper at the active site but differs from most copper enzymes in having just one copper atom instead of two. This project focuses on a specific group of alcohol oxidizing reagents synthesized of copper Schiff bases to make compounds that model the half-way point of the oxidation. This cannot be done with the enzymes themselves. The purpose of this project is to make and study various unique mononuclear copper complexes, in order to propose a mechanism by which the oxidation is possible.
