Probing The Dynamics of Biomolecules Using EPR Spectroscopy and Electron Spin Labels

Abstract

This thesis presents two applications of using electron spin probes along with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy experiments for studying the dynamics of biological molecules in different motion regimes. Chapter 1 introduces the physical origin of the magnetic signal originated from the spin probes. Chapter 2 presents a novel solution-state EPR assay developed using spin-labeled nucleic acid aptamers. The assay was demonstrated by measuring and fitting the spin label mobility change upon protein–aptamer binding, followed by a discussion of integrating this assay with diamond nitrogen vacancy centers for a potential quantum protein sensor. Chapter 3 presents an instrumentation project, in which a customized rapid freeze-quench (RFQ) device was constructed for discover the temporal resolution of maltose binding protein conformational change along with double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy.