Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Biomacromolecules

Abstract

Synonyms Chiral Spectroscopy – Absorbance of circularly polarized light

Definition Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is now more widely used to study biological molecules than nonbiological ones (Berova et al. 2000; Nordén et al. 2010). This is despite the fact that the molecules concerned are typically DNAs and proteins which are large and that detailed structural analysis of their CD spectra is not possible (though work is in progress by both fitting algorithms (Wallace and Janes 2009) and calculations to enhance what can be deduced from the data).

The CD of biological macromolecules is mostly measured to investigate one of four things:

1. The conformation of the macromolecule itself

2. Changes in the conformation of the macromolecule

3. Interactions of the macromolecule with small molecules, especially achiral ones whose induced CD is due solely to their interaction with the macromolecule

4. The interactions between the macromolecule and other chiral molecules, including DNAs and... Show more