Brandon Greene ¦¦ Brian Dyer Research Lab at Emory University

Brandon Greene

Group Member Since 2010
B.S., Washington State University, 2009

I am interested in fundamental mechanisms and dynamics involved in activation of protons in both biological and inorganic molecular systems. Reduction of protons is a fundamental challenge in the chemical sciences and may play a critical role in future carbon independent energy infrastructures. I have been involved with a collaboration between our group and the Maroney group at the University of Massachussettes Amherst studying the [NiFe] hydrogenase from Thiocapsa roseopersicina using nano-crystal quantum dots to initiate enzyme reduction with light in a highly time resolved manner. Hydrogenases catalyze the reversible reduction of protons to molecular H2 at minimal over-potentials and at high turnover frequencies. Quantum dot photo-sensitizers are ideally suited because they are efficient broad band absorbers in the visible and UV spectrum, have relatively good quantum yields and can be functionalized to bind to enzymes through electrostatics or covalent linkages. This work is a proof of principle model for a solar driven H2 production platform. I am also working on [FeFe] hydrogenase active site analogues in an effort to study fundamental steps in proton reduction and hydride oxidation outside the protein matrix on fast timescales. These projects are very interdisciplinary and use a variety of techniques including FTIR, time resolved IR, GC, visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence, spectroelectrochemistry and synthetic development.

Publications and Presentations

Yehl, K., Joshi, J. P., Greene, B. L., Dyer, R. B., Nahta, R. and Salaita, K., "Catalytic Deoxyribozyme-modified Nanoparticles for RNAi-Independent Gene Regulation." ACS Nano, 2012, (just accepted).
Greene, B. L., Joseph, C. A., Maroney, M. J., Kumar, S., Adams, M. M. and Dyer, R. B., "Proton Reduction in Nature: Towards a Mechanistic Understanding." Presented by invitation at the 2012 Emory University Chemistry Department Awards Ceremony in recognition of the Johnston Award, August 24th 2012, in Atlanta, GA.
Greene, B. L., Joseph, C. A., Maroney, M. J. and Dyer, R. B., "Mechanistic Insights into Multi-electron chemistry in [NiFe] H2ases." Presented by invitation at the 2012 Gordon Research Conference on Photosynthesis in recognition of the Junior Investigator award, July 12th 2012 in Davidson, NC.
Greene, B. L., Joseph, C. A., Maroney, M. J. and Dyer, R. B., "Multi-photon, multi-electron photo-reduction of H2ase by QDs reveals novel H2 production mechanism." Poster presented at the 2012 Gordon Research Conference on Photosynthesis, July 8-13th 2012 in Davidson, NC.
Greene, B. L., Joseph, C. A., Maroney, M. J. and Dyer, R. B., "Direct Evidence of Active-Site Reduction and Photodriven Catalysis in Sensitized Hydrogenase Assemblies." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134 (27), pp 11108–11111.
Greene, B. L., Joseph, C. A., Maroney, M. J. and Dyer, R. B., "H2ase-QD Complexes: Models for Light Driven Multi-Electron Chemistry and Solar H2 Production" Poster presented at the 2011 Gordon Research Conference on Metals in Biology, January 30th – February 4th 2011 in Ventura, CA.