Kasey Clear publishes research of napthoquinones

Professor Kasey Clear just published his second research article from his work here at IU South Bend. This research is a collaboration between IU South Bend, Rice University and several medical schools - one of which is the IU Medical School (in South Bend) where the lead author, Kenneth Olson, teaches and researches. The reaction shown above shows a naphthoquinone being reduced by hydrogen sulfide, or, from another point of view, shows a naphthoquinone oxidizing hydrogen sulfide. Naphthoquinones can affect the body in at least two notable ways through their redox chemistry: (1) They can bind to proteins by reacting with the thiol groups of cysteine residues on the proteins; this change in protein structure leads to a change in protein function. (2) They generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide which are strong oxidants. The article was published as "open access" so anyone can view it free of charge here.

LECO mobile lab helps with chemistry courses

Adjunct organic chemistry instructor, David Alonso (holding a printout in the left picture), arranged to have a mobile science lab come to IU South Bend for three days this week to help with our organic chemistry and analytical chemistry laboratory classes. For the past 12 years, Alonso has worked at LECO Corporation. LECO Corportation develops analytical instruments with a focus on elemental analysis and separation instruments. They have been in business, with headquarters in St. Joseph, Michigan, since 1936 although originally they were named Laboratory Equipment Corporation. LECO Corporation has four different mobile labs that tour the country. Alonso and his colleagues, Scott and Bruce, brought the Separation Science Mobile Lab so that students in CHEM-C 343 (organic chemistry) and CHEM-C 310 (analytical chemistry) could use the state-of-the-art Pegasus GC-TOFMS instruments to analyze samples they prepared in class. GC (gas chromatography) separates the components of a gas mixture which are then identified by TOFMS (time-of-flight mass spectroscopy), essentially relying on how long it is takes heavy versus light gas particles to flow. It was a wonderful experience for the students in all the classes to see the step up in instrumentation from our teaching labs - and for Alonso's students to see their professor in his main employment. While many of our adjunct instructors are retired, just as many are working full time jobs in their main career.  Thank you, David, for making this happen.