Juan Lopez (Class of ’22)
Single-Step Replacement of an Unreactive C–H Bond by a C–S Bond Using Polysulfide as the Direct Sulfur Source in the Anaerobic Ergothioneine Biosynthesis Ergothioneine, a natural longevity vitamin and antioxidant, is a thiol-histidine derivative. Recently, two types of biosynthetic pathways were reported. In the aerobic ergothioneine biosyntheses, non-heme iron enzymes incorporate a sulfoxide into an […]
Vanessa Stahl (Class of ’21)
β-Catenin/CBP inhibition alters epidermal growth factor receptor fucosylation status in oral squamous cell carcinoma Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a major driver of head and neck cancer, a devastating malignancy with a major sub-site in the oral cavity manifesting as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). EGFR is a glycoprotein receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) whose […]
Surya Pulukuri (Class of ’21)
Step back, translate, extend: Addressing misconceptions relating to energy and free energy in cellular reactions via active‐learning videos In order to succeed in biochemistry, students must transfer and build upon their understanding of general chemistry and introductory biology concepts. One such critical area of knowledge is bioenergetics. Student misconceptions around energy and free energy must […]
Surya Pulukuri (Class of ’21)
Incorporating an Online Interactive Video Platform to Optimize Active Learning and Improve Student Accountability through Educational Videos Video learning holds an important place in modern STEM classrooms, but more improvements to the learning experience are needed. In order to introduce active-learning components into assignments, questions are often deployed alongside videos. Unfortunately, many students tend to […]
Jeremy Weber (Class of ’16)
Luminescence of Lanthanide Complexes with Perfluorinated Alkoxide Ligands Four groups of rare-earth complexes, comprising 11 new compounds, with fluorinated O-donor ligands ([K(THF)6][Ln(OC4F9)4(THF)2] (1-Ln; Ln = Ce, Nd), [K](THF)x[Ln(OC4F9)4(THF)y] (2-Ln; Ln = Eu, Gd, Dy), [K(THF)2][Ln(pinF)2(THF)3] (3-Ln; Ln = Ce, Nd), and [K(THF)2][Ln(pinF)2(THF)2] (4-Ln; Ln = Eu, Gd, Dy, Y) have been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal […]
Sydney Lagueux (Class of ’18)
Heterotrimetallic {LnOVPt} complexes with antiferromagnetic Ln–V coupling and magnetic memory The new PtVO(SOCR)4 lantern complexes, 1 (R = CH3) and 2 (R = Ph) behave as neutral O-donor ligands to Ln(OR)3 with Ln = Ce, Nd. Four heterotrimetallic complexes with linear {LnOVPt} units were prepared: [Ln(ODtbp)3{PtVO(SOCR)4}] (Ln = Ce, 3Ce (R = CH3), 4Ce (R = Ph); Nd, 3Nd (R = CH3), 4Nd (R = Ph); ODtbp = 2,6-ditertbutylphenolate). […]
Josh Nelson (Class of ’13)
Reversible PCET and Ambient Catalytic Oxidative Alcohol Dehydrogenation by {V=O} Perfluoropinacolate Complexes A new air-stable catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of benzylic alcohols under ambient conditions has been developed. The synthesis and characterization of this compound and the related monomeric and dimeric V(IV)- and V(V)-pinF (pinF = perfluoropinacolate) complexes are reported herein. Monomeric V(IV) complex (Me4N)2[V(O)(pinF)2] (1) […]
Andrea Rustad (Class of ’19)
H-Activated Single Molecule Conductance and Binding Mechanism of Imidazole on Gold We identify imidazole as a pH-activated linker for forming stable single molecule–gold junctions with several distinct configurations and reproducible electrical characteristics. Using a scanning tunneling microscope break junction (STMBJ) technique, we find multiple robust conductance signatures at integer multiples of 1.9 × 10–2G0 and […]
Meera Kumanan (Class of ’20)
Structural basis for lipid binding and function by an evolutionarily conserved protein, Serum Amyloid A Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a plasma protein that transports lipids during inflammation. To explore SAA solution conformations and lipid-binding mechanism, we used hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, lipoprotein reconstitution, amino acid sequence analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations. Solution conformations of […]
Shane Devlin (Class of ’18)
Anomalous pH-Dependent Surface Adsorption of p-Methyl Benzoic Acid: Enhancement Due to Cooperative Adsorption Vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy is used to determine the surface pKa of p-methyl benzoic acid (pMBA) at the air–water interface by monitoring the carbonyl and carboxylate stretching modes over the pH range of 2 to 12. The SFG intensities of pMBA and […]