I have encountered glimpses of several different fields of
studies throughout the many courses I have taken throughout my years of
college. Different subjects had their unique levels of personal interests of
mine, but the one field of study that fascinated me tremendously was that of
Organic Chemistry. To be able to tie in the interest I have in the subject of
Organic Chemistry along with the passion I have for the field of medicine, I
was interested in researching about newly synthesized peptides that may be used
to inhibit Caspase 3 enzymes where the levels of cell apoptosis and diseases
such as Alzheimer’s Disease may both be reduced.
A goal I had set for myself is to be able to learn in
greater detail about the field of medicine by attending medical school and
completing my residency in order to become a future physician here in the
United States. My research project is all but a small portion of how the
processes of medicinal discoveries have been made throughout the years, but
nonetheless, it has given me the perspective I very much appreciate on how
certain body complications are addressed in ways most people may not have
knowledge about.
Every week, I work in an Organic Chemistry Lab room and
obtain the physical properties of newly synthesized Caspase 3 peptide
inhibitors that have been prepared by my mentor. I take careful notations of
the color, texture, and temperature at which each inhibitor melts, while also
taking note of any changes in color and texture that may occur as the
inhibitors are being heated. I also use the chemical structures of each
synthesized inhibitor and determine the relationships of electron withdrawing
and electron donating capability by developing Hammett Plots.
This week, I discovered that even though there were two
synthesized inhibitors of the same class, their color and melting points were
quite different. The differences in the physical properties had to do with the
presence of ionic salt in one synthesized inhibitors and not the other.
