Chemical Biology

Chemical biology uses the power of chemistry to ask and answer questions of biological significance, typically using molecular tools designed to inhibit, activate, or report on the function of biomolecules. In this class we will cover a wide range of chemical biology topics. We will start with a basic chemistry review, then cover peptide and nucleic acid chemistry and synthesis, post-translational modification of proteins, optical imaging, chemoselective chemistry in water, and approaches to lead discovery for drug development. In the second half of the course, we will cover chemical genetics, orthogonal ligands and receptors, DNA recognition and modification, unnatural amino acids, enzyme inhibitors, rational drug design, nanoparticles, and synthetic biopolymers.

Date of first class: Tuesday August 26