Biological
Biological chemistry is an exciting, highly interdisciplinary field linking biology with bioanalytical, bioorganic, bioinorganic, and biophysical chemistry. Chemists working in this area apply chemical techniques and tools to understand the molecular and cellular basis of biological processes. Research in this area includes the design, synthesis and analysis of structure and reactivity of molecules in biological contexts.
UMaine chemists are using high resolution mass spectrometry to identify specific biomarkers that indicate the presence of ovarian cancer; synthesizing gold(I) and zinc(II) thiolate complexes and investigating their reactivity with disulfide linkages in proteins; understanding are enzymes found in fungi break down lignocellulose into sugars; and using computational methods to investigate transport and reactivity of ions and small molecules in cell membranes.
