Circular dichroism and its uses in biomolecular research - A Review

¹ Department of Chemistry, University Institute of Sciences, Chandigarh University Gharuan -140413, Mohali, Punjab, India
² Department of Chemistry, University Institute of Sciences, Chandigarh University Gharuan -140413, Mohali, Punjab, India

Abstract

The higher-order structure of proteins as well as their thermal stability can be determined using the circular dichroism (CD). CD is a common approach for swiftly assessing binding, secondary structure, and folding properties of proteins. In a nutshell, circular dichroism is an absorption spectroscopy technique that employs circularly polarized light to explore structural properties of optically active chiral compounds. Biological molecules, as well as their interactions with metals and other compounds, are studied extensively. Circular dichroism is becoming more widely acknowledged as a useful technique for studying the various conformations taken by proteins and nucleic acids in solution. Because CD is a quantitative approach, it can be used to track protein denaturation and protein-ligand interaction. These CD measures will have two key advantages: they can be performed on small amounts of material in a physiological buffer, and they will provide one of the greatest methods for monitoring any structural changes that occur as a result of changes in environmental conditions. It has proven possible to generate proteins on a big scale for therapeutic reasons utilizing recombinant DNA technology. Circular dichroism is also well-known as a useful method which is used for determining the folding characteristics of proteins. CD is used to see if a purified, produced peptide is either bended or if it has a mutation that impacts its strength and confirmation. The basic steps in getting this CD data, as well as the methodologies for interpreting the spectra in order to predict the protein structure, are summarized in this article. However, many researchers’ value is harmed when they use circular dichroism, either because of poor experimental design or because of insufficient data. The essential steps in getting this CD data, as well as the methodologies for interpreting the spectra in order to predict the protein structure, will be summarized in this article. However, the value of many investigations using circular dichroism is harmed due to insufficient attention to critical components of instrument calibration or sample characterization.