Tony Mack, UC

I’m an upcoming Junior Chemistry student studying here at the University of Cincinnati. This summer I am working with Leanna Patton in the Gudmundsdottir Lab, working on the synthesis and characterization of photodynamic azide crystals.

The Gudmundsdottir lab focuses on photodynamic reactions as a part of the push for sustainability in Chemistry. The photodynamic crystals that we work on are Azide crystals; upon reacting with light, the crystals release nitrogen gas from the azide group. The resulting buildup of nitrogen gas from reacting with light allows the crystal to perform a variety of actions. They can jump, bend or shatter into pieces in a variety of ways. The purpose of the research is to form the rules for how and why different azide crystals do different things when reacting with light, so that we can predict their behavior and find even more practical uses for them.

Joshua Galindo, Bellarmine University

Joshua is an up-and-coming senior at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. This summer he is working with Dr. Addepalli and is focused on cloning and expressing the novel ribonuclease genes CCRN2 and Angiogenin in E. coli cells, which would allow for the characterization of the proteins. The genes of interest will be ligated into a piece of PET22B plasmid, resulting in a recombinant vector. The recombinant vector will be transferred to a host bacterium, competent BL21 E. coli cells, and plated onto LB agar plates. The E. coli cell colonies that grow onto the LB agar plate will be screened for recombinant plasmid that contain the gene of interest and will subsequently be induced to express the ribonuclease gene so the expressed protein could be purified. The purified protein will be tested for its ribonuclease activity, cleavage specificity through testing with a known sequence of RNA, and subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis for characterization of oligonucleotide digestion products. Through this analysis, the RNA cleavage behavior of the ribonuclease will be identified.

Aliz Leon - CSU Stanislaus

Hi everyone, my name is Aliz Leon, and I am a senior chemistry student from California State University Stanislaus GO WARRIORS!!! Currently I am participating in the REU program at the University of Cincinnati for ten weeks working with my graduate student Brandi James in Dr. Anna Gudmundsdottir. This summer my project is synthesizing 2,2-diazido-2,3-dihydroinden-1-one (diazido) and completing a product studies to determine what the product after the molecule is shot with light (photolyzed) is produced. It is known that azides are good for rapid reactions but also great precursor to forming nitrene(s). Nitrenes are significant because the nitrogen only has six valence electrons but two are covalently bonded and four are non-bonded making the nitrene a great intermediate in many chemical reactions. We know that starting with an azide will release nitrogen gas resulting in a nitrene where in the case of my project we are starting a diazide. From previous work and current results starting with a diazido has resulted in a single nitrene then continuing with photolysis ending with the photoproduct. Our goal for the summer it to determine what molecule is the photoproduct to then determine the mechanism for the reaction starting from diazido to the photoproduct. This project is important because research on single azides has be done but more work needs to be completed on diazides. Also this work is very significant because knowing how azides and nitrenes work could lead to more sustainable synthetic chemistry field where light could be used to our advantage.

Here is what Aliz has to say about her experience in the REU program