Structure and behaviour of the molecules of life from Raman optical activity

by Laurence Barron (Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow)

Wednesday 27 Feb 2008, 09:00 → 10:00 Europe/Stockholm

Nordita

The novel chiroptical technique of Raman optical activity has provided new insight into the solution structure and behaviour of biomolecules. Results on proteins reveal both the importance of residual structure in unfolded peptide and protein states and the crucial role of water in promoting disorder-to-order transitions, especially the formation of alpha-helix. The chirality of both the constituent amino acid residues and the secondary and tertiary structures in the ordered state may play a central role in such processes. This work reinforces the perception that a homochiral organic chemistry in an aqueous environment is a sine qua non for any molecule-based form of life, which has important implications for astrobiology (the origin and functional role of homochirality, the origin of life and the search for life on other worlds).