Update: Please note that the date has been changed.
January 21 we will be hosting Prof. Ratmir Derda of the University of Alberta for a talk on his research. Anyone is welcome to join us for a look at how he and his team have built massive libraries of ligands using DNA and post-translational modifications.
PDF with abstract and directions.
Location: University of Alberta, Chemistry room E3-25 (map)
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Time: 6:30 PM refreshments; 7:00 PM lecture
Title: Genetically-Encoded Libraries of Chemicals
Abstract:
Genetically encoded libraries, in which each ligand is attached to a DNA tag, are increasingly used for ligand discovery. Natural translation of DNA, however, could yield only libraries of peptides made of 20 natural amino acids. In our lab, we expand diversity of genetic libraries using chemical post translational modifications. For example, we used N-terminal Ser oxidation to synthesize 10^9 of aldehyde-peptides and convert them to glycans in high yield. Alternatively, we alkylated Cys-containing libraries by unnatural azobenzene-linkers to generate genetically-encoded libraries of light-responsive small-molecules. Our group also develops optimized screening strategies that yield reproducible inhibitors with 48-hour turnaround time. Selection consists of 3-5 replicas of panning, multiple control experiments and next-generation sequencing of all experiments at once. Each experiment yields 10^5 sequences, from which we could extract statistically-significantly enriched “leads” using statistical analysis. With proper mathematical treatment, experiment can yield a ligand and S.A.R. for it at once. This approach to screening is unprecedented in genetically encoded library and it could change the way ligand design and discovery is performed.