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Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Detection of Biomolecules Using EBL Fabricated Nanostructured Substrates
Published on: March 20, 2015
Structure and behaviour of biomolecules from Raman optical activity
1WestCHEM, Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. laurence@chem.gla.ac.uk <laurence@chem.gla.ac.uk>
Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|August 30, 2006
Summary
Raman optical activity (ROA) is a powerful technique for analyzing biomolecules in solution. ROA provides detailed structural insights into proteins, carbohydrates, and viruses, with new instruments making measurements routine.
Area of Science:
- Biophysical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Chiral molecules exhibit Raman optical activity (ROA) in scattered light.
- ROA offers valuable structural information for biomolecules in aqueous solutions.
- Applications include protein secondary structure, carbohydrate solution structure, and glycoprotein/virus component analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the potential of Raman optical activity for biomolecular structure determination.
- To showcase the versatility of ROA across various biomolecular types.
- To emphasize the advancements making ROA measurements routine.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of circularly polarized components in Raman-scattered light.
- Application of ab initio quantum-chemical simulations to ROA spectra.
- Utilizing a novel commercial instrument for routine ROA measurements.
Main Results:
- ROA provides detailed information on protein motif, fold, and secondary structure.
- ROA elucidates the solution structure of carbohydrates.
- ROA reveals structural elements in unfolded proteins and components of intact viruses and glycoproteins.
Conclusions:
- Raman optical activity is a promising technique for comprehensive biomolecular analysis in solution.
- Ab initio simulations enable complete 3D structure determination of small biomolecules.
- Commercial availability of advanced instrumentation has made ROA measurements routine and accessible.
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