Author's Department/Program
Chemistry
Language
English (en)
Date of Award
1-1-2011
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Chair and Committee
Michael Gross
Abstract
Mass spectrometry: MS) has emerged as an important tool for analyzing and characterizing large biomolecules. In this dissertation, two aspects of the development and application of MS-based approaches are presented; they include: 1) protein conformation and folding dynamics: in Chapters 2 to 5) and bacterial peptidoglycan: PG) structure and biosynthesis: Chapters 6 to 8). Chapter 1 serves as the introduction for both aspects. Part I of the dissertation focuses on the development of analytical methods combining fast photochemical oxidation of proteins: FPOP) and mass spectrometry analysis. In chapter 2 to 4, we discuss protein folding with sub-millisecond time resolution by a new pump/probe procedure. Perturbations in protein structure are by temperature jump of the protein solution, followed by fast photochemical oxidation of proteins: FPOP) as the probe. The hydroxyl radical lifetime was predicted by a dosimeter experiment: Chapter 2). The T jump-induced folding constant was measured at the global protein level: Chapter 3), and the residue level detail was revealed by proteolysis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: LC-MS): Chapter 4). Chapter 5 discusses the development of a new FPOP reagent, iodobenzoic acid, and its application on studying conformational differences between apo- and holo- proteins. Part II of the thesis discusses the development and application of MS-based methods to investigate bacterial peptidoglycan. Chapter 6 focuses on the methodology of the bottom-up MS to characterize the fine structure of enterococcus faecium: E. faecium) peptidoglycan. Furthermore, we developed a time-dependent isotopic labeling strategy and applied it to E. faecium during the cell wall growth to determine quantitatively the percentage of heavy isotope incorporation into different muropeptides through peptidoglycan growth cycles, discussed in chapter 7. The results are important for understanding tertiary structure and designing novel drugs for antibiotic-resistant pathogens. In chapter 8, we applied the above approaches to investigate methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus: S. aureus) and its fem-mutants. We emphasize the peptidoglycan composition, fine structures, and biosynthesis.
Recommended Citation
Chen, Jiawei, "Mass Spectrometry for Determination of Conformation and Dynamics of Proteins and Structure and Biosynthesis of Bacterial Peptidoglycan" (2011). All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). 562.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/etd/562
Comments
Permanent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7936/K7W093ZH