Chemistry Commons^™

The Evolution Of Function In Strictosidine Synthase-Like Proteins, Michael A. Hicks, Alan E. Barber, Lesley Ann Giddings, Jenna Caldwell, Sarah E. O'Connor, Patricia C. Babbitt

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

The exponential growth of sequence data provides abundant information for the discovery of new enzyme reactions. Correctly annotating the functions of highly diverse proteins can be difficult, however, hindering use of this information. Global analysis of large superfamilies of related proteins is a powerful strategy for understanding the evolution of reactions by identifying catalytic commonalities and differences in reaction and substrate specificity, even when only a few members have been biochemically or structurally characterized. A comparison of >2500 sequences sharing the six-bladed β-propeller fold establishes sequence, structural, and functional links among the three subgroups of the functionally diverse N6P superfamily: …

Layer-By-Layer Fabrication Of Covalently Crosslinked And Reactive Polymer Multilayers Using Azlactone-Functionalized Copolymers: A Platform For The Design Of Functional Biointerfaces, Maren E. Buck, David M. Lynn

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

We report a method for modulating the physicochemical properties of surfaces that is based on the reactive layer-by-layer fabrication of covalently crosslinked thin films using azlactone-functionalized copolymers. We demonstrate that copolymers containing different molar ratios of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone (VDMA) can be alternately deposited with poly(ethyleneimine) to assemble covalently crosslinked thin films. Characterization using ellipsometry demonstrates that, in general, film growth and thickness decrease as the content of reactive, azlactone functionality in the copolymer used to assemble the film decreases. Reflective infrared spectroscopy experiments demonstrate that films fabricated from MMA:VDMA copolymers contain residual azlactone functionality and that these …

Fabrication And Selective Functionalization Of Amine-Reactive Polymer Multilayers On Topographically Patterned Microwell Cell Culture Arrays, Adam H. Broderick, Samira M. Azarin, Maren E. Buck, Sean P. Palecek, David M. Lynn

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

We report an approach to the fabrication and selective functionalization of amine-reactive polymer multilayers on the surfaces of 3-D polyurethane-based microwell cell culture arrays. "Reactive" layer-by-layer assembly of multilayers using branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) and the azlactone- functionalized polymer poly(2-vinyl-4,4′-dimethylazlactone) (PVDMA) yielded film-coated microwell arrays that could be chemically functionalized postfabrication by treatment with different amine-functionalized macromolecules or small molecule primary amines. Treatment of film-coated arrays with the small molecule amine d-glucamine resulted in microwell surfaces that resisted the adhesion and proliferation of mammalian fibroblast cells in vitro. These and other experiments demonstrated that it was possible to functionalize different structural …

A Stereoselective Hydroxylation Step Of Alkaloid Biosynthesis By A Unique Cytochrome P450 In Catharanthus Roseus, Lesley Ann Giddings, David K. Liscombe, John P. Hamilton, Kevin L. Childs, Dean Dellapenna, C. Robin Buell, Sarah E. O'Connor

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Plant cytochrome P450s are involved in the production of over a hundred thousand metabolites such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenylpropanoids. Although cytochrome P450 genes constitute one of the largest superfamilies in plants, many of the catalytic functions of the enzymes they encode remain unknown. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a cytochrome P450 gene in a new subfamily of CYP71, CYP71BJ1, involved in alkaloid biosynthesis. Co-expression analysis of putative cytochrome P450 genes in the Catharanthus roseus transcriptome identified candidate genes with expression profiles similar to known terpene indole alkaloid biosynthetic genes. Screening of these candidate genes by …

Critical Perspective: Named Reactions Discovered And Developed By Women, Julie A. Olsen, Kevin M. Shea

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Named organic reactions. As chemists, we’re all familiar with them: who can forget the Diels−Alder reaction? But how much do we know about the people behind the names? For example, can you identify a reaction named for a woman? How about a reaction discovered or developed by a woman but named for her male adviser? Our attempts to answer these simple questions started us on the journey that led to this Account.

We introduce you to four reactions named for women and nine reactions discovered or developed by women. Using information obtained from the literature and, whenever possible, through interviews …

Fabrication Of Covalently Crosslinked And Amine-Reactive Microcapsules By Reactive Layer-By-Layer Assembly Of Azlactone-Containing Polymer Multilayers On Sacrificial Microparticle Templates, Eric M. Saurer, Ryan M. Flessner, Maren E. Buck, David M. Lynn

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

We report on the fabrication of covalently crosslinked and amine-reactive hollow microcapsules using 'reactive' layer-by-layer assembly to deposit thin polymer films on sacrificial microparticle templates. Our approach is based on the alternating deposition of layers of a synthetic polyamine and a polymer containing reactive azlactone functionality. Multilayered films composed of branched poly(ethylene imine) (BPEI) and poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) (PVDMA) were fabricated layer-by-layer on the surfaces of calcium carbonate and glass microparticle templates. After fabrication, these films contained residual azlactone functionality that was accessible for reaction with amine-containing molecules. Dissolution of the calcium carbonate or glass cores using aqueous ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or …