Title
Synthesis of an Unnatural Fluorescent Amino Acid
Faculty Sponsor
Thomas Goyne
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/Program
Chemistry
ORCID Identifier(s)
Moriah Carmel: orcid.org/0000-0002-7073-6246 Hannah Laatsch: orcid.org/0000-0002-0919-5102
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 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.
Recommended Citation
Laatsch, Hannah J.; Carmel, Moriah G.; and Goyne, Thomas, "Synthesis of an Unnatural Fluorescent Amino Acid" (2018). Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium. 41.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/sires/41
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Moriah Carmel is a senior Chemistry major from Laporte, IN. Hannah Laatsch is a senior Chemistry major from Janesville, WI. Dr. Goyne is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Valparaiso University.