35th Annual Student Research Conference
Characterization of Sphingomonas sp. KT-1 PahZ1 Interface Mutant Domain via Crystallization and QM/MM
Jake A. Collins
Dr. Bill R. Miller, Faculty Mentor
Poly Aspartic Acids (PAAs) are water soluble plastics that have a variety of uses, mainly as a super-swelling material in feminine hygiene products. -River water bacteria Sphingomonas sp. KT-1 was discovered to degrade PAA to Oligoaspartic Acid (OAA) through specific cleavage of the β-amide linkages. The project goal is to characterize the 2 proteins that are responsible for PAA breakdown, and their monomeric forms to understand how to link the 2 proteins together to form a functioning chimera protein that can break down PAA to monomeric aspartic acid for protein engineering to catalyze the biodegradation of other xenobiotics.
Keywords: Computational Chemistry, Crystallization, Green Chemistry
Topic(s):Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Chemistry
Biology
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Session: 2-21
Location: SUB Activities Room
Time: 3:00