Faculty Advisor: Dr. James S. Hyde Phone: 414-955-4799 E-mail: akittell@mcw.edu
BS, Chemistry, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Numerous EPR techniques have already been well established, but there is still much to be learned about how different physical parameters correspond to the EPR spectrum. My studies focus on expanding the range and accuracy of distance measurements between two nitroxide spin-labels by measuring their dipolar interactions using continuous wave (CW) EPR at 1 GHz (L-band). Current CW experiments utilize X-band (10 GHz). However, these are limited to measurements between 8 and 20 angstroms. Expanding the range of CW distance measurements would serve the EPR community because pulsed EPR machines are not readily abundant.
Kumar A, Periyannan GR, Narayanan B, Kittell AW, Kim JJ, Bennett B. Experimental evidence for a metallohydrolase mechanism in which the nucleophile is not delivered by a metal ion: EPR spectrokinetic and structural studies of aminopeptidase from Vibrio proteolyticus. Biochem. J. 403:527-536 (2007).