# Upgraded circular dichroism spectropolarimeter for Notre Dame Biophysics Instrumentation Core Facility

> **NIH NIH S10** · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME · 2024 · $106,804

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Characterization of protein conformational changes is a crucial prerequisite to understanding biological
functions on a molecular level. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy has been an essential component of the
biophysical tool kit for decades, exploiting the chiral properties of small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids
to provide information on molecular structure and its changes. For example, changes in secondary structure
caused by protein unfolding (induced by perturbants such as temperature or pH), or folding (induced by the
binding of a small molecule ligand, protein, or nucleic acid) can be quickly and easily quantified as changes in
the far-UV CD spectrum. Separately, CD spectroscopy is also an essential technique in the study of chiral-
selective properties of small molecules, including drugs, fluorescent dyes, and chemical catalysts designed to
mimic enzymatic catalysis. Over the past decade, advancements in instrument optics and nitrogen purging, as
well as the development of additional functionalities such as simultaneous fluorescence and absorbance
detection, have further enhanced the utility of CD spectroscopy for biomedical studies. This proposal, in
response to Program Announcement PAR-22-081, requests funds to purchase a state-of-the-art Jasco J-1500
CD spectropolarimeter to advance the research goals of University of Notre Dame scientists. This instrument
will replace Notre Dame’s current Jasco J-815 instrument, which although still productive and carefully
maintained for its >13-year lifespan, is optically inferior to modern instruments and operated by an obsolete
computer. The new instrument will be housed in a recently renovated and expanded core facility; its acquisition
is an important piece of a large effort currently underway to expand and improve research infrastructure at the
University of Notre Dame. As such, supervision, care, and maintenance of this instrument will contribute to
employment stability for core facility staff, while access to this state-of-the-art research equipment will continue
to grow the research enterprise at Notre Dame.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10853887
- **Project number:** 1S10OD036273-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
- **Principal Investigator:** Patricia Louise Clark
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $106,804
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-15 → 2025-05-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10853887

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10853887, Upgraded circular dichroism spectropolarimeter for Notre Dame Biophysics Instrumentation Core Facility (1S10OD036273-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10853887. Licensed CC0.

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