Synthesis of an Unnatural Fluorescent Amino Acid

Authors

Moriah G. Carmel, Valparaiso UniversityFollow
Hannah Laatsch, Valparaiso UniversityFollow

Faculty Sponsor

Thomas Goyne

College

Arts and Sciences

Discipline(s)

Chemistry

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 5-3-2019

Abstract

The long-term goal of this project is to chemically synthesize an unnatural fluorescent amino acid (UFAA) that can later be used to build glow-in-the-dark proteins. UFAAs allow the visualization of a single protein in an otherwise transparent living cell. The specific objective of this project is to synthesize a 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phthalimide-based environment-sensitive fluorescent amino acid. The first part of this synthesis was the preparation of an anhydride (4-Methyl-Aminophthalic Anhydride), which was then coupled with commercially-available Boc-Dap-OtBu Hydrochloride. Finally, trifluoroacetic acid was used to remove the protecting groups, yielding the desired product. The product was characterized using 1H and 13C NMR, and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The remaining tasks include improving the purification and percent yield.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Moriah Carmel is a Senior Chemistry Major from La Porte, IN

Hannah Laatsch is a Senior Chemistry Major from Janesville, WI

Recommended Citation

Carmel, Moriah G. and Laatsch, Hannah, "Synthesis of an Unnatural Fluorescent Amino Acid" (2019). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 791.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/791

For Artistic Presentations

has 2 posters. please place side by side