Atmospheric Nitration of Proteins in Urban Air and Links to Agent Detection Strategies
Abstract
The objectives of this proposal are to investigate changes in optical properties of a select set of nitrated proteins and bioparticles and to develop a protocol by which to quantify the concentration of nitrated proteins suspended in ambient air. One goal of the project is to begin development of a library of optical properties (e.g. UV-vis, fluorescence, Raman spectra) of proteins and bioparticles of interest, both that have and have not been exposed to heterogeneous nitration reactions under various conditions. A protocol for nitrated protein detection will also be developed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), originally developed to measure the concentration of nitrated proteins in a small set of dust and atmospheric air samples. ELISA is a wet chemical technique in which either one or two protein antibodies are utilized to selectively capture a specific protein, or alternatively its nitrated analog; this method has not been applied outside of relatively narrow studies, therefore, updated protocols will be developed to apply these techniques to additional proteins and to detect specific nitrated forms of the proteins. Once protocols for protein detection have been developed, initial test measurements will be performed on both laboratory standards and atmospheric particulate matter collected via filtration. Measurements of the changes in optical properties of proteins exposed to nitration reaction will be performed; an initial proof-of-concept test will also be performed on atmospheric filter samples to verify that non-nitrated and nitrated proteins can be detected in ambient air.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1510416
Entities
People
- John Huffman
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Denver