Heather Desaire, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, KU

Desaire uses mass spectrometry to study the structure of glycoprotein hormones isolated from pituitary extracts. Important because they can be cancer markers and pharmaceuticals, glycoprotein hormones are comprised of a protein portion and a carbohydrate portion. Though the protein portion is easily characterized by other research methods, the carbohydrate portion is much more difficult to study. In addition, while the protein sequence remains constant for any given hormone, the carbohydrate structure can be quite varied. There is believed to be a link between the structure of the carbohydrate and the function and efficacy of the hormones. So Desaire and her researchers are using tandem mass spectrometry to develop a method of sequencing the carbohydrate portion of the molecule. Once a sequencing protocol is developed, structure/function studies can be undertaken that could explain why the carbohydrate is important, and what form of the carbohydrate provides the most potent form of the hormone. (Look for profiles of other COBRE-funded scientists' research in this newsletter.)