Research

Overview

Our group designs and synthesizes new natural product-like small molecules that are used to investigate biological processes. We are especially interested in characterizing protein small molecule interactions with an eye toward the development of antibacterials.  All the projects in the group use molecular design and multi-step synthesis as their foundation. On top of these foundational techniques, projects will also include structural characterization and conformational analysis followed by biological activity assays such as protein binding, inhibition of enzyme activity, or cell-based assays. activity of seven membered ring sugars called septanoses. The following slide-shows give some details regarding projects that are currently active.

Synthesis of siderophores: tools for understanding host-microbe interactions

Our group aims to explore a class of secondary metabolites called metallophores. Metallophores have high binding affinity for metals that allow microbes to sequester essential metals for their survival. They also have the potential as the archetype of Trojan Horse antibiotics in which they are linked to antibiotic units to kill targeted pathogenic bacteria once entered the microbial cell.

Glycomimetics – the search for new ligands of lectins

The manipulation of protein-glycan interactions using small molecules motivates the development of new molecular design principles. It also requires the development of synthetic routes to deliver new compounds to be assayed.

Glycosidases for un-natural sugars – bioorthogonality

The manipulation of protein-glycan interactions using small molecules motivates the development of new molecular design principles. It also requires the development of synthetic routes to deliver new compounds to be assayed.