Flavomaquettes with observer spin label for hyperpo-larized EPR ((2) B07)

• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514664767

Due to an unfavourable Boltzmann ratio, magnetic resonance methods such as EPR and NMR suffer from intrinsically low polarization and thus limited sensitivity. To overcome this shortcoming, we aim to develop a biological, hypersensitive spin tag for hyperpolarized EPR methodology. To this end, we will design a small tetra-helical, flavin binding maquette protein carrying a stable radical, which may be encoded in the protein sequence using non-canonical amino acids. The electron polarization of the radical, which acts as “observer spin label”, can be pumped by a spin-correlated radical pair formed upon illumination of the bound flavin molecule and a nearby aromatic amino acid.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 386: HYP*MOL – Hyperpolarization in molecular systems
• Applicant Institution: Universität Leipzig
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Irene Coin; Dr. Matthias Elgeti; Professor Dr. Jens Meiler