The Synthesis of Unnatural Amino Acids

Authors

Madeline JohnsonFollow

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Thomas Goyne

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Chemistry

ORCID Identifier(s)

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3008-2732

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-30-2018

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 investigators to visualize a single protein in an otherwise transparent living cell. The specific UFAA target for this project is L-alanine, 3-[7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl], which is an analog of the natural amino acid tryptophan. This synthesis consists of a coupling reaction followed by a deprotection reaction. Products have been characterized using ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and Liquid Chromatography Spectrometry (LC-MS). Future tasks could include optimizing the yield and purity of this UFAA.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Madeline Johnson is a senior Chemistry major/ Biology minor from Valparaiso, Indiana, who intends on attending graduate school and starting a career in research with the goal of becoming a professor.

Recommended Citation

Johnson, Madeline, "The Synthesis of Unnatural Amino Acids" (2018). Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium. 22.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/sires/22