Villanova University's Department of Chemistry is holding a PDS - Graduate Symposium on November 12, 2013

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Department of Chemistry

 

PDS – GRADUATE SYMPOSIUM

Synergistic Induction of Cytoprotective Heme Oxygenase-1 by  

Co-treating with Sulforaphane and Copper Ions

Zachary Kemmerer

Advisor: Dr. Aimee Eggler

 Oxidative stress is a key component in the development of many chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular diseases, and carcinogenesis. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a highly inducible cytoprotective protein that produces the antioxidant, bilirubin. Bilirubin is the most potent antioxidant in mammalian serum, and thus is critical for mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation. Small molecule electrophiles and metals have independently been shown to induce HO-1. We hypothesized co-treatment could generate more-than-additive, synergistic induction of HO-1. We find that sulforaphane does synergistically induce the HO-1 protein when combined with Cu(II). The mechanism of this synergy is explored.

      

Synthesis of a Lemonose Derivative

Alicia Briegel
Advisor: Dr. Robert Giuliano

Lemonose is a sugar unit that is part of the natural product lemonomycin, which has shown activity against strains of bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A previous study on a class of carbohydrate-containing antibiotics, anthracyclines, showed that changing the functional groups on the sugar unit could change the activity and/or toxicity of the compound. The goal of this work is to synthesize 2,4,6-trideoxy-4-amino-3-C-methyl-L-lyxohexopyranose, a derivative of lemonose (shown below). The key synthetic challenge currently under investigation is formation of the cis amino alcohol. 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

4:30pm – 5:20pm

 

Mendel 213

Mendel Science Center

The Public Is Invited To Attend