Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) has emerged as a powerful mechanistic framework for driving challenging bond activations in organic synthesis. By coupling proton and electron transfer in a single kinetic step, PCET allows access to reactive radical intermediates under mild conditions that would otherwise require strongly reducing reagents.

Pyrrolnitrin (PRN) is a bioactive halometabolite produced from L-tryptophan (L-Trp) through a four-enzyme biosynthetic pathway involving PrnA, PrnB, PrnC, and PrnD. PrnB catalyzes an oxidative ring rearrangement but remains mechanistically unresolved due to the failure to reconstitute activity in vitro. To address this, we examined two PrnB homologs (PsPrnB and FbPrnB) and characterized the binding conformation and affinities of PrnB with two substrates (7-Cl-Trp and Trp) and two substrate analogs (TAM and IDPA).

Thiol dioxygenases (TDOs) are a family of unique non-heme iron-dependent metalloenzymes that catalyze the addition of both atoms of molecular oxygen to the thiol groups of their substrates.¹ Previously characterized members have shown several important roles in thiol and oxygen homeostasis among bacteria, mammals, and plants.² These enzymes belong to the cupin enzyme superfamily, which is characterized by a β-barrel fold and has two semi-conserved cupin binding motifs.

Antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase perform the critical role of converting reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide and superoxide into benign molecules such as water and dioxygen. However, some modern cancer treatments seek to take advantage of the destructive effects of ROS to induce cell death in tumor cells¹.

The accelerating global demand for energy and rapid industrialization present pressing challenges to environmental sustainability and energy security. Developing advanced functional materials is crucial to addressing these challenges. Our research group explores the design and synthesis of inorganic materials that can contribute solutions in two critical areas: environmental remediation and energy storage. A central focus of our work is metal sulfides, which possess the remarkable ability to form both crystalline and amorphous frameworks.

Are you interested in learning more about the UGA Department of Chemistry, or just chemistry in general? Stop by the Department of Chemistry Open House on Tuesday, August 19, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the plaza between the STEM-1 and STEM-2 buildings. There will be chemistry demonstrations (yes, you can watch us blow stuff up!), food, science swag, information on everything from research safety to study abroad, and more.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), linear polysaccharides found near the cell membrane as proteoglycans and free oligosaccharides, play important roles regarding cell functions. GAGs have been implicated as potential biomarkers in many diseases like cancer and kidney related diseases and are used as therapeutics for many types of ailments. Because they are highly sulfated, complex GAGs have been analyzed with reverse polarity capillary electrophoresis (CE) and negative mode mass spectrometry.