[Frontier Leaders] Synthetic Tools for Chemical Biology: Methods, Binders and Sensors

Frontier Leaders Seminar

Title: Synthetic Tools for Chemical Biology: Methods, Binders and Sensors

Speaker: Jose Luis Mascareñas

Affiliation: University of Santiago, Spain

Short Biography Cv

Abstract:

The ability to synthesize molecules is at the heart of the progress in many branches of science. Therefore there is a continuum need of devising practical and efficient synthetic methods that allow to construct relevant products from readily available starting materials in a sustainable and reliable manner. In this context, one of our research lines is focused to the development of new metal catalyzed processes.¹

We also want to use our ability as synthetic chemists to make designed molecules that can lead to new type of biomolecular recognition processes. In particular we have devised several types of molecules capable of interacting with designed dsDNA sequences. Some of these derivatives have been equipped with responsive units that allow for an external control of their activity. We have also developed some derivatives that not only bind the designed targets but also are capable of emitting a signal upon that interaction, therefore working as selective biosensors. ²

[1] F. López, J.L. Mascareñas Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014, 43, 2904.
[2] Sánchez, M. I.; Martínez-Costas, J.; González, F.; Bermudez, M. A.; Vázquez, M. E.; Mascareñas; J.L. ACS Chem. Biol. 2012, 7, 1276. Jiménez Balsa, A.; Martínez-Albardonedo, B.; Pazos, E.; Mascareñas, J.L.; Vázquez, M. E. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 8825. Penas, C; Pazos, E.; Mascareñas, J.L.; Vázquez, M. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 3812.