Newsletter - Winter 2012 - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Newsletter - Winter 2012 - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Newsletter - Winter 2012 - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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Fall Luncheon 2011Honoring our Fifty Year Members – by DavidMartenThis year, our 50 year member luncheon was heldat Stella Mare Restaurant near the Bird Refuge inSanta Barbara on Saturday, October 22 nd . One <strong>of</strong>our new 50 year members, Dr. J. Thomas Gerigfrom U.C. Santa Barbara, gave an inspiring talk onhis research entitled: “Underst<strong>and</strong>ing Peptide-Solvent Interactions through NMR <strong>and</strong> MD”.There were about 33 who attended <strong>and</strong> we enjoyeda wonderful lunch <strong>of</strong> either roasted chicken breastor Penne pasta with artichoke hearts, mushrooms<strong>and</strong> tomatoes. Several others with more than 50years in the ACS were there plus a couple with 60years as a member.The talk focused on using molecular dynamicscalculations to model what is being observed inthe NMR spectrum <strong>of</strong> a small protein, [val5]-angiotensin, in a solvent mixture <strong>of</strong> methanol <strong>and</strong>water. Scientists <strong>of</strong>ten study proteins in thesemixed solvent systems <strong>and</strong> the intent is to be ableto use NMR nuclear Overhauser measurements onproteins to determine solvent-protein interactions.Due to the complexity <strong>of</strong> the systems, moleculardynamics calculations are required to helpunderst<strong>and</strong> the experiment data. Dr. Gerigreported his recent findings <strong>and</strong> gave details <strong>of</strong> thepeptide-solvent interactions that he has observed<strong>and</strong> interpreted.Chair-Elect Curtis Musser, Dr. Gerig <strong>and</strong> DavidMartenGills OnionsA CALPACS tour eventLocated in Oxnard, Gills Onions is one <strong>of</strong> thelargest fresh-cut onion processing plants in theworld. But Gills doesn’t just process onions, theyutilize an Advanced Energy Recovery System(AERS) on the property that turns the onion wasteinto biogas, which feeds into fuel cells to produceultra-clean heat <strong>and</strong> power. In 2010, PrudentEnergy announced the installation <strong>of</strong> a 600-kilowatt Vanadium Redox Battery Energy StorageSystem (VRB-ESS) at Gills Onions to enhancetheir existing AERS. The VRB-ESS will providethe facility with emergency backup power <strong>and</strong>reduce the company’s need to draw electricityfrom the grid when rates are highest. Gills expectsto save hundreds <strong>of</strong> thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> dollars each yearin operating expenses.Keep your ears open for a weekday tour date inMay or June!ACS National Meeting<strong>Chemistry</strong> <strong>of</strong> LifeSan Diego, CA March 25-29 Chemical Networks in Biology Epigenetics: From Basic Principlesto Drug Development Materials as Medicines Drug Polypharmacology Prediction<strong>and</strong> Design Protein Conjugates: From BasicPrinciples to Clinically Active DrugsThe Kavli Foundation Innovations in<strong>Chemistry</strong> LectureMonday, March 26, 5:30-6:30Speaker: Carolyn Bertozzi <strong>of</strong> University <strong>of</strong>California, Berkeley & San Francisco HowardHughes Medical InstituteREGISTER ONLINE
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