91B0FBB4-04A9-D5D7-16F0F3976AA697ED
C9A22247-E776-B892-2D807E7555171534
 Rob Parker, a Hamilton College sophomore with medical school in his near future, is participating in a ten-week internship in the chemistry department working with Professor and Associate Dean of Faculty Timothy Elgren.  Parker is concentrating on a project involving sol-gels, which are solid structures made by hydrolyzing and condensing silicon-based reactants.  He is attempting to show that encapsulating enzymes, such as phosphodiesterase, in these sol-gel matrices preserves their catalytic abilities in a self-contained, recyclable system. if the technique works, the sol-gel enzyme systems may prove very helpful in environmental cleanup.

Phosphodiesterase, the enzyme that is the focus of Parker's work, could be used for bioremediation in a manner much more efficient than normal catalysts currently are.  Encapsulating a protein in a sol-gel matrix prevents the natural degradation of proteins that occurs over time and also reduces the amount of biochemical agents that are released into the environment because they are self-contained.  The sol-gel proteins may be used to remove pesticides, biochemical warfare agents, and pollutants from the environment by catalyzing their breakdown. 

Parker will be responsible for isolating phosphodiesterase from an E. coli system privided by a collaborator from Texas A&M University.  Once the enzyme is attained, he will encapsulate it in the sol-gel matrix and determine its catalytic properties, which will provide evidence for the success of the ten-week project.

Help us provide an accessible education, offer innovative resources and programs, and foster intellectual exploration.

Site Search