Micellar electrokinetic chromatography coupled to amperometric electrochemical detection was used to investigate the chemical environment of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Preliminary studies focused on the employment and optimization of the system to separate electroactive amine-containing molecules present in the head and body of male and female flies. Ultimately, biogenic amines significant to the fly including L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopamine, tyramine, and serotonin were identified and their relative abundance quantified. Transgenic Drosophila with functionally ablated dopamine and serotonin neurons were analyzed to demonstrate the sensitivity of the technique. The separation method developed in this study should offer an advantage in elucidating the critical role that electroactive biogenic amines play in complex physiological processes correlated with Drosophila behavior.

Structural features of the single and mixed micellar systems of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) were characterized using the fluorescence probe 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (Prodan). In particular, our investigations capitalized on the spectral sensitivity of Prodan to its environment as well as the extensive solubility of Prodan in solvents of varying polarity and/or hydrophobicity to effectively use a three-mode factor analysis technique to resolve the coincident emission from Prodan in multiple microenvironments of single and mixed micelle systems. Our investigations reveal parameters of Prodan fluorescence that reflect the relative polarities of the surfaces of SDS and DTAB micellar cores, the permeability of the SDS micelle interface, and the heterogeneity of SDS−DTAB mixed micellar systems. In particular, we observe a strong affinity of Prodan for both SDS and DTAB micelles at the water−surfactant interface with the emission λmax of Prodan consistent with greater water accessibility in the SDS interfacial region. Reduction in SDS head-group repulsion upon the addition of both an alkali metal series of counterions (Li+ → Na+ → K+) and a tetrasubstituted ammonium series of counterions (NH4 + → N(CH3)4 + → N(CH3CH2)4 + → N(CH3CH2CH2CH2)4 +) appears to induce a more nonpolar environment for Prodan. Each one-phase and two-phase region of the dilute aqueous binary SDS−DTAB pseudoternary diagram is identified by distinct Prodan λmax values. Evidence is presented for the presence of SDS−DTAB mixed micelle systems.

Aptamers are nucleic acids selected for binding target molecules of interest with high affinity and selectivity. They have seen increasing application in protein detection due to many of their advantages over traditional protein probes such as antibodies. Aptamers' robust yet flexible functional structures and relatively small sizes have allowed us to develop several strategies for sensitive protein detection in real time and in homogeneous solutions while posing minimum effects on the biological activities of the proteins. Quantitative protein analyses were done using aptamers labeled with a fluorophore and a quencher based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), or using aptamers labeled with only one fluorophore based on fluorescence anisotropy. Real world biological samples were tested for the presence of target proteins. We believe that aptamers hold great potential for high throughput protein analysis in areas such as disease diagnosis and functional proteomics.

A semester-long quantitative laboratory course taught concurrently with the second-semester general chemistry course allows students to devise mini-research projects around the general area of phytoremediation. Within the context of this course, students learn to plan a project with a specific hypothesis while designing experiments to test and control variables in a complex system. While there are many courses that use sampling and analysis methods to survey pollution in the environment, this course specifically is intended to model a research experience where students actually design experiments to test a definite hypothesis. In addition to teaching beginning students particular laboratory techniques, analytical methods, and principles of environmental chemistry, the course is also designed to purposely facilitate the type of critical thinking, group process, creativity, and methods of scientific discovery needed for later successful undergraduate research experiences in any discipline or project. Perfecting a method of investigation is of limited use until a person applies it to unresolved questions.By working to solve open-ended problems that are of interest to them and are interdisciplinary in nature, students learn to think critically, becoming better problem solvers, and the learning process is more exciting and relevant (1-7). Early exposure to interdisciplinary problem solving encourages students to enthusiastically remain in science and actively seek undergraduate research experiences. A number of research-active undergraduate institutions have developed courses, which are interdisciplinary in nature, that address open-ended questions related to an area of current research focus in science (8-12).