Chemical Biology Chem258, Spring 2009

Chem258: chemical biology Instructor –Martin Case, Cook A321 Meeting times –MWF 9: :25 am, Angell 104 Class website –

Course structure Based on student presentations (2 per student) –A paper that interests you –Extensive background not required –Powerpoint preferred –Hard copy for class to read and prepare for… Discussion –1-2 class periods –Be prepared to ask (and answer) questions –Instructor in the hot seat Grading is based on presentations and participation in discussion sessions

Time commitment 3 credit class = 10 hours per week –3 hours in class leaves 7 hours per week –3 hours reading and researching other students’ presentations leaves 4 hours per week, 48 hours over the semester –2 presentations per student over the course of the semester –Expect to spend about 24 hours on each presentation 24 hours??? –6 hours reading and researching your paper –18 hours to prepare your presentation (it can easily take an hour per slide)

What is chemical biology? The application of synthetic chemical techniques and tools to the study and manipulation of biological systems

What is chemical biology not? Biochemistry –chemistry of biological systems –relatively few classes of reactions –mediated by enzymes Bio-organic chemistry –extension of organic chemistry toward biology –eg synthesis of natural products

Some basic principles Chemoselectivity –Biologically inherent (thiols) –Exogenous via promiscuous systems (azido sugars, azidohomoalanine) Molecular recognition –Stereocomplementarity –H-bonding –Hydrophobic interactions Ultimately everything is aqueous

Why does it matter? Drugs –Modern medicinal chemistry (inhibitor design) is essentially chemical biology Different drugs –Antibody therapeutics –Interference RNAs Probes and diagnostics –Tumor cell labeling –Enzyme and metabolite tracking 21st century medicine –Proteomics and glycobiology Catalysis

record count year Chemical biology publications since 1990

Chemical biology journals Chemical Biology (ACS) Nature Chemical Biology Journal of Chemical Biology (Springer) ChemBioChem Chemistry & Biology Chemical Biology (RSC) –chemical biology articles from RSC publishing