Biological Sciences Division
Macromolecular Structure and Dynamics Directorate
Dr. David Hoyt, Technical Lead of the HFMRF, is shown here with the 900 MHz magnet that operates at a field of 21.15-T with 27 MJ of stored energy. Full Image (jpg 28.3kb)
This 11.5-Tesla FTICR instrument is one more than a dozen mass spectrometers housed in the HPMSF.
Full Image (jpg 63.8kb)
The Macromolecular Structure and Dynamics (MS&D) directorate focuses on developing a fundamental, molecular-level understanding of biochemical and biological systems and their response to environmental effects. A secondary focus includes aspects of materials science and catalysis and the chemical mechanisms and processes operative in these areas. The directorate also operates two of the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory's high-volume user facilities — the High-Field Magnetic Resonance Facility (HFMRF) and the High-Performance Mass Spectrometry Facility (HPMSF) — in support of these and other user research programs.
The research interests of the MS&D scientific staff involve some of the most exciting areas in modern molecular biology, biochemistry, and chemistry.
- Structural Genomics research determines the three-dimensional structures of DNA, RNA, proteins and enzymes, and their bonding and intermolecular associations. Particular interests and collaborations exist relative to protein fold classification and sequence-structure-fold relationships.
- Functional Genomics research determines the bonding and interaction domains among DNA, RNA, and proteins, with particular emphasis on DNA damage recognition and repair processes.
- Proteomics identifies and characterizes the protein repertoire (the proteome) expressed by a cell, organism, or tissue, and its dependence on environmental factors, physiology, age, or disease state.
- Structural Biology activities center on key mechanistic issues such as how proteins recognize damage to DNA or how metals function in proteins to enhance specificity and reactivity of selected chemical reactions.
- Biological Imaging acquires images and corresponding chemical information at the cellular, organism, and small animal scales, with particular interest in the development of combined magnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy techniques to observe and elucidate biological processes.
- Measurement Science and Instrumentation Development includes the development and application of novel and unique nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry instrumentation techniques for biological and environmental problems.
- Characterization of Catalytic Centers is a key step in understanding how catalysts function and provide insights into how they can be improved. This effort uses the novel methods developed by MS&D staff and in collaboration with other PNNL researchers to study catalytic surfaces.
The MS&D directorate is comprised of two technical groups, Structural Biology and Microimaging and Separations and Mass Spectrometry.
Contact: David Koppenaal, Associate Director