Cacimar A. Ramos lvarez
Graduate Student
Department of Chemistry University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Rooms: Q-112, Q-114, Q-116 P.O. Box 9019 Mayagüez, PR 00680
Phone: (787) 832-4040 x2535
E-mail:
cramos@sonw.uprm.edu
Resume
Education
B.S. Chemical Engineering
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, 1998
M.S. Chemistry
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, 2002
ResearchDescription
Setting up a femtosecond absorption pump/probe experimental setup for biomolecules analysis. The system consist of a commercially Ultrafast laser assemble form Spectra Physics, coupled with a “3D approach” detection system for sample analysis. The laser assemble is composed of a diode green laser (Millenia) used to pump a Ti-Sapphire oscillator (Tsunami). This beam is directed to a regenerative amplifier that is been pumped with a YLF laser (Merlin). The output of the regenerative amplifier has a time resolution of approximately 100 fs, with 1 KHz repetition rate and a power of 800 mj. Recent work has been directed on the installation of an ICCD (Intensifed Charge Couple Device) for the detection of the absorption signals from the sample. This new setup will make possible the acquisition of range of wavelength instead of single wavelength as previously done using a PMT detector. We will then be able to generate a 3D surface that presents the relationship between wavelength, time and signal absorption. The software needed to couple the detector with the optical delay (wich gives us the time resolution of the experiments) has been “homemade” coded using Visual Basic. The sample handling mechanism has also been developed and constructed in site in order to handle the samples and different ligand complexes. Various sample management approaches and schemes have been implemented and are available for the different samples and it’s handling requirements.
Our experiments will focus on the kinetic studies of hemoglobin’s from the local clam Lucina Pectinata. This clam posses three different heme proteins called HbI, HbII and HbIII, the first one capable of binding H2S in its active site. In order to elucidate the various mechanisms involved and how those are affected by the active site residues composition, mutants have been expressed and produced and will also been study on this new laser system setup. The new detection setup will provides the opportunity of applying global fitting techniques to the data in order to determine the different kinetic constant for the ligand complex under study.
Publications
- Pietri, R., Ramos, C., Ramirez, E., Helbing, J., Chergui, M., and Lopez-Garriga, J. (2002) Investigation of the Hemoglobin I carbonmonoxide and oxy complexes from Lucina pectinata by femtosecond transient absorption Femtochemistry and Femtobiology (World Scientific Publishing House, Douhal and Santamaria Ed.) 720 – 730.
- Collazo, E., Pietri, R., De Jesus, W., Ramos, C., Del Toro, A., Leon, R., Lopez-Garriga, J., and Cadilla, C.L. (2004) Functional characterization od the purified holo form of Hemoglobin I from Lucina pectinata over-expressed in Escherichia coli. The Protein Journal, 23, 239-245.
- Helbing, J., Bonacina, L., Pietri, R., Bredenbeck, J., Hamm, P., van Mourik, F., Chaussard, F., Gonzalez-Gonzalez, A., Chergui, M., Ramos-Alvarez, C., Ruiz, C., and Lopez-Garriga, J. (2004) Time-resolved visible and infrared study of cyano complexes of myoglobin and of Hemoglobin I from Lucina pectinata Biophys J. 87, 1881-1891.
Technical Conferences
- Second Colloquium in Protein Structure, Function and Dynamics, Caribe Hilton Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, February, 15-12, 2003
- XXIX American Chemical Society (ACS) Senior Technical Meeting, Parador Villa Parguera, Lajas, Puerto Rico, November 4, 2005
- 231st American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia, March 26-30, 2006
- 33rd ASP Meeting, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, July 8-12, 2006
- XIV International Conference on Dioxygen Binding and Sensing Protein (O2Bip), Stazione Zoologica Dohrn, Naples, Italy, September, 3-7, 2006
- XXX Senior Technical Meeting of the ACS & 13th Chemical Engineering Symposium, First Congress Advances in Chemical Sciences and Engineering in Puerto Rico, Embassy Suites Dorado del Mar Beach and Golf Resort, Dorado, Puerto Rico, November 3-4, 2006
Participation in CNY-PR AGEP
Local events
- CNY-PR AGEP Lunch Meeting, Best Western Resort Hotel, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, September 2004
- CNY-PR AGEP Welcome Activity, Chemical Engineering Building, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, Puerto Rico, September 05, 2005
- CNY-PR AGEP Met, Biology Building, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, Puerto Rico, May 2006
- CNY-PR AGEP Graduate Student Final Activity, Physical Building, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, Puerto Rico, November 27, 2006
Fellows/Mentors Meetings attended
- CNY-PR AGEP, Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM), Fellows-Mentors Meeting, Syracuse, New York, June 16-18, 2005
- CNY-PR AGEP, Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM), Fellows-Mentors Meeting, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, June 15-17, 2006
Other AGEP events attended in or outside Puerto Rico
- Joint Graduate School Fair, New York, New York, November 2005
