Physics and Astronomy At The University of Georgia

Through evolution, molecular function has been finely tuned, such that even the most complex of chemical processes occurring in humans takes place with exceptional efficiency. To understand why nature has chosen a particular set of molecular building blocks, a surge in gas-phase experiments has recently targeted the resistance to photochemical damage (photoprotection) of key DNA bases, amino acids and their corresponding subunits. This has, in turn, provided insight into their properties. The talk gives an overview of our group's efforts to unravel some of the photoprotection mechanisms of heteroaromatic biomolecules following UV absorption using time-resolved spectroscopy. It also discusses our group's latest endeavors at extending these measurements to the condensed phase.