Chemistry for Solving Biological Problems

Convener: 

Emma Wilson, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK

 

Programme:

Wednesday 5 August (afternoon)

Thursday 6 August (morning and afternoon)

Friday 7 August (morning)

Keynote Speakers

Cumulative circumstantial evidence for secondary DNA structures as valid targets for drug discovery
Laurence H. Hurley, University of Arizona, USA

Examining cell division mechanisms using chemical biology approaches
Tarun M. Kapoor, The Rockefeller University, USA

Testing the "histone code" hypothesis using synthesis
Tom W. Muir, The Rockefeller University, USA

Award Lecture

Telomeric quadruplex nucleic acids as therapeutic targets
Stephen Neidle, School of Pharmacy, University of London, UK
(Winner of the RSC George and Christine Sosnovsky Cancer Research Award 2008)

Speakers

Fluorescent probes for multiplexed intracellular imaging
Kevin Burgess, Texas A & M University, USA

Syntheses & evaluation of a library of 2-[5-(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)-4, 5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl] phenol and 2-(5-(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)-4, 5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) phenols as potential anti-tumour agents
Mukund S. Chorghade, Chorghade Enterprises / THINQ Pharma, USA

Development of a coarse-grained model of DNA and applications to DNA cruciform formation
Jonathan P. K. Doyle, University of Oxford, UK

Enhanced cell and in vivo delivery of splice-redirecting oligonucleotides by Pip peptide conjugation
Michael J. Gait, Medical Research Council, UK

Probes and functional molecules for understanding oxidative stress and ageing
Richard C. Hartley, University of Glasgow, UK

Chemical tags facilitate the sequence-specific sensing of DNA strands with non-engineered nanopores
Stefan Howorka, University College London, UK

Investigating DNA-enzyme interaction using the fluorescence decay of 2-aminopurine
Anita C. Jones, University of Edinburgh, UK

Kinetic and three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies on new alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Shamsun Khan, East West University, Bangladesh

Towards small molecule mediated protein thioester formation through controlled disruption of peptide bonds
Derek Macmillan, University College London, UK

Exciton-controlled probes for live cell RNA imaging
Akimitsu Okamoto, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, Japan

Chemical intervention in Ca2+ signalling pathways
Barry V. L. Potter, University of Bath, UK

Assessment of metal complexes as potential drugs using mass spectrometry
Stephen F. Ralph, University of Wollongong, Australia

Exploring protein modification using chemical biology
Edward W. Tate, Imperial College London, UK

Title TBA
Nicholas J. Westwood, University of St Andrews, UK

Thiobases in DNA: Chemical synthesis, UVA irradiation and medicinal exploitation
Yao Z. Xu, The Open University, UK

Symposium Information

Many important biological problems require interdisciplinary approaches to their solutions and chemistry is frequently a key component. This two-day symposium focuses on the different ways chemistry is used in a range of biological problems.

Abstract submissions for posters in all these areas are strongly encouraged. 

Topic 1 - Chemistry and Biology of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acid molecules are central to the fundamental understanding of biological processes. Structural and biochemical studies of DNA and RNA structures in complexes with proteins or small molecule ligands have benefited particularly from chemistry input, leading to breakthroughs, for example, in knowledge of chromatin structure and function, and mechanisms of transcription and translation within cells. In some cases important new classes of drugs (e.g. anticancer agents) have been discovered that target novel structures, such as G-quadruplexes.

Topic 2 - Chemistry of Aging

Novel structures are important and form the first of two focuses. The importance of free radicals to the aging process is clear and pathways of cell apoptosis are also being illuminated.

In the Interplay between Chemistry and Cell Biology, the second focus, it is now possible to introduce novel chemical structures and fluors into proteins to probe biological phenomena such as signal transduction, cellular division, adhesion and other cellular processes. Combined with amazing new methods of intracellular molecular tracking, the roles of such cellular processes are being rapidly elucidated.