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FACULTY >Trevor Douglas
Research Interests
 Astrobiology efforts in the Douglas lab are focused on structural and catalytic studies of protein-templated inorganic nanoparticles associated with biomineralization. Biomineralized materials are characterized by a significant degreee of control over the size, morphology, and polymorph selection. We are particularly interested in the formation of Fe-based biominerals under both natural and synthetic conditions. We have explored nanoparticle iron biomineralization in microbes from the high temperature environments of Yellowstone National Park (and other thermal areas) as an important extreme environment with relevance to the origins of life.
One focus of this work is in the area of protein encapsulated Fe(x)S(y) nanoparticles, which because of their intermediate size, are ideal model systems. Their study will enable us to fill the structural gap between the bulk iron sulfide minerals and the Fe(x)S(y) centers seen in enzymes. Catalytic activity is present at both ends of the spectrum – rudimentary and non-specific in the case of bulk minerals and highly precise in the case of enzymatic cofactors. By examining Fe(x)S(y) clusters of intermediate size, we can better understand the structural determinants of catalytic activity in both the enzymatic and bulk systems. In particular, we can address the following:
* How does the size of a Fe(x)S(y) cluster affect the detailed arrangement of its atoms?
* If the structures of Fe(x)S(y) clusters with sizes from dozens to thousands of atoms were compared, would they show a continuum where basic features do not change qualitatively, or would they show distinct transitions between different structural types?
* Which structural features of Fe(x)S(y) clusters are especially important for catalysis, and do these features show size dependence?
* Can the enhanced catalytic activity of enzymatic Fe(x)S(y) centers be imitated in artificial systems?
* How can improved understanding of Fe(x)S(y) catalysis aid in the development of quantitative theories to constrain early evolution scenarios?
Selected Publications
M. Parker, B. Ramsay, M. Allen, M. Klem, M. Young, T. Douglas "Expanding the Temperature Range of Biomimetic Synthesis Using a Ferritin from the Hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus" Chem. Mater. (2008) 20, 1541-1547.
M. Klem, J. Mosolf, M. Young, T. Douglas “Synthesis of Protein Encapsulated Nanomaterials by Photoreduction” Inorg Chem (2008) 47, 2237-2239.
M. Klem, M. Young, T. Douglas “Biomimetic Synthesis of b-TiO2 Inside a Viral Capsid” J. Materials Chem (2008) 18, 3821-3823.
Sebyung Kang, Janice Lucon, Zachary B. Varpness, Lars Liepold, Masaki Uchida, Debbie Willits, Mark J. Young, and Trevor Douglas “Monitoring Biomimetic Platinum Nanocluster Formation using Non-covalent Mass Spectrometry and Cluster Dependent H2 Production” Angewandte Chemie (2008) 47, 7845–7848.
Lars O. Liepold, Luke M. Oltrogge, Peter Suci, Trevor Douglas, Mark J. Young ” Accurate Mass Assignment of Noncovalent Complexes by Electrospray Mass Spectrometry” J. Amer. Society for Mass Spec. (2008) accepted – in press.
B. Wiedenheft, M. Flenniken, M.A.Allen, M. Young, T. Douglas “Bioprospecting in high temperature environments; application of thermostable protein cages“ Soft Matter (2007)3, 1019-1098.
B. Ramsey, B. Wiedenheft, M. Allen, G. H. Gauss, C. M. Lawrence, M. Young, T. Douglas “Dps-like protein from the hyperthermophilic archaeaon Pyrococcus furiosis” J. Inorganic Biochemistry (2006) 100, 1061-1068.
T. Douglas, M. Young “Viruses: Making Friends With Old Foes” Science (2006) 312, 873-875. [Cover]
G.H. Gauss, B. Wiedenheft, M. Young, T. Douglas, C. M. Lawrence “The structure of the DPS-like protein from Sulfolobus solfataricus reveals a bacterioferritin-like di-iron binding site within a DPS-like dodecameric assembly” Biochemistry (2006) 45, 10815-10827.
B. Wiedenheft, D. Willits, J. Mosolf, M.Yeager, K. Dryden, M. Young and T. Douglas “An archaeal antioxidant: Characterization of a Dps-like protein from Sulfolobus solfataricus” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2005) 102, 10551-10556. [Cover]
Lab Personnel
Craig Jolley
Post-doctoral Associate
jolleycraig@gmail.com
Sebyung Kang
Post-doctoral Associate
sabsab7@chemistry.montana.edu
Matt Prissel
Graduate Student
mprissel@chemistry.montana.edu
Janice Lucon
Graduate Student
jerader@hotmail.com
Courtney Reichhardt
Undergraduate Student
courtney.reichhardt@myportal.montana.edu
Katie Lenahan
Undergraduate Student
katielenahan@gmail.com
Collaborators
John Parise (Fe-sulfide nanoparticle characterization)
SUNY Stony Brook
Dan Strongin (Fe, Fe-oxide and Fe-sulfide nanoparticle synthesis)
Temple University
Alexandra Porter (Electron microscopy of nanoparticles)
Imperial College London
Yves Idzerda (Magnetic characterization of Fe-oxide nanoparticles)
Montana State University
Joe Frank (Magnetic characterization of Fe-oxide nanoparticles)
National Institutes of Health
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