Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Optical Trapping of Plasmonic Nanoparticles for In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Characterizations
Published on: June 23, 2022
Is Raman Optical Activity Spectroscopy Sensitive to β-Turns in Proteins? Secondary Structure and Side-Chain
Carl Mensch1,2, Christian Johannessen1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium).
Abstract:
β-turns are essential for the structure and function of proteins. The spectroscopic technique Raman optical activity (ROA) has been suggested to be sensitive to such structural elements of proteins in solution. Three spectral features have been reported to mark β-turns in protein ROA spectra: being a negative band at 1220 cm-1 , positive intensity around 1290 cm-1 and negative intensity around 1340-1380 cm-1 . In this work, density functional theory calculations demonstrated that these assignments are inaccurate as these spectral regions are not robust and sense the exact secondary structure surrounding the β-turn as well. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the amino acid side-chains affect the exact ROA patterns which can direct future research to perform a systematic analysis of the contributions of the side-chains.
Related Concept Videos
Protein and Protein Structure
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme...
Secondary Active Transport
Secondary Active Transport
Raman Spectroscopy: Overview
However, a small fraction of the scattered light exhibits a frequency shift due to the exchange of energy between the incident photons and...
Raman Spectroscopy Instrumentation: Overview
The monochromatic laser source, typically using visible or near-infrared radiation, generates a highly focused beam of light. This light interacts with the molecules of the sample, scattering some of the light. Liquid and gaseous samples are usually tested in ordinary glass capillaries, while solids can be analyzed as powders packed in capillaries or as potassium...
Structural Protein Function
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity. In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to...

