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Freeman, Garrett: Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for Structural Characterization of Proteins

Garrett Freeman

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Title: Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for Structural Characterization of Proteins

Name: Garrett Freeman

Home Institute: University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Programs: RISE program

Other contributors: Andrew Nieuwkoop

Abstract: Membrane proteins provide a series of important cellular functions and make up over 60% of current drug targets, yet they remain poorly understood. To better study membrane proteins, new methods in Magic Angle Spinning Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MAS ssNMR) are being developed which would make MAS ssNMR a more viable technique to study membrane protein structure. To help scientists do this, the code which controls the experiments in the Nieuwkoop lab has been updated to use more modern language for clarity and to keep the code functioning on newer controllers. In addition, proton detected NMR experiments using 105kHz MAS are being tested to determine the information that can be obtained from them. So far it has been shown that the backbone resonances of the GB1 protein can be observed using hCANH, hCONH, hCOcaNH, hCAcoNH, hCBcacoNH, hCBcaNH, hNCAHA, and hNcoCAHA experiments at 105kHz MAS.

Biography: My name is Garrett Freeman, I am a rising senior chemistry major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Meyerhoff scholar. Outside of the research I perform at my home institution under Dr. Michael Summers, I am the present of UMBC’s swim club and a teaching assistant for general chemistry courses.