Detecting the Superoxide Inactivation of L-DOPA Dioxygenases Mutants

Bernice Owusu ’25

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Colabroy

What is the broader impact of your summer research? That is, why should the world care about your work?

Majority of the earth’s carbon is stored in plant cell walls. In order to access and utilize this carbon will require enzymes. L-DOPA dioxygenases are a group of enzymes that have the ability to breakdown the plant cell wall (specifically catechol ring found in lignin), and also participate in the biosynthesis of some antibiotic and antitumor products.My research focused on detecting the superoxide inactivation of the mutant L46W and L46R with the native substrate L-DOPA, and other substrates using the oxygen electrode. My research enables us to  better understand how our enzymes inactivate themselves due to the release of superoxides (activated oxygen)  by the enzyme. The uncoupling experiment using SOD and catalase helped prove the hypothesis that our enzymes inactivate themselves by releasing superoxides before the superoxide encounters the substrate for the reaction to proceed. 

What has summer research taught you about yourself and the field that you researched and/or studied?

This summer taught me  a lot about resilience and patience, which enabled me to develop  problem solving skills. I spent the majority of my time solving problems that were not specifically related to my project but were necessary for the project to proceed. However, the satisfaction of figuring it out made the process more worth it. This summer I learned  a lot about how to operate the oxygen electrode instrument, and I have gotten a better feel of it. I also learned that the mutant L46W reacts faster or better with the substrates compared to L46R. I also discovered that the native substrate L-DOPA spontaneously oxidizes in air which can leave black stains on the electrode disk.

What advice would you give to students considering a future research opportunity similar to the one you participated in?

Students considering future research opportunities should expect challenges and leave room for failure because it is all part of the problem solving process. Research takes a lot of patience, and focus, but it can also be very fun along the way.