Radioactive metal probes as diagnostic tools in biomoleculars

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Wolfgang Tröger
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2000 to 2005
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5259106

This project focusses on the application of Time Differential Perturbed Angular Correlation (TDPAC) Spectroscopy to the study of the structure and dynamics of metal binding sites in proteins and enzymes, especially those for which no other spectroscopic methods can be applied due to e.g. a dearth of convenient nuclei, or in EPR-silent cases. In particular, the nuclear probe 62Zn(EC)62Cu(t1/2 = 9.2 h) is to be used as a radiolabel in TDPAC studies of the metal centres of small blue copper proteins and multi-copper oxidases, whilst the probe 187W(ß-)187Re (t1/2 = 23.7 h) is to be similarly employed in investigating the metal sites of tungsten-enzymes. In addition, the feasibility of utilising the isotope 48Cr(EC)48V (t1/2 = 21.6 h) in TDPAC studies of chromium metabolism will be assessed. The required radioisotopes are to be obtained from either the nuclear reactors at the Forschungszentren Jülich and Geesthacht or the cyclotron at the Institut für Strahlen- und Kernphysik (ISKP), Universität Bonn. These radioisotopes are to be separated by means of the mass separator at the ISKP, since high specific activity ("carrier-free") is an indispensable prerequisite of the proposed research. Owing to its high sensitivity, TDPAC can be applied under physiological conditions, i.e. at picomolar concentrations.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Tilman Butz