Presidential Young Investigator Award: Molecular Recognition and Biomimetic Chemistry

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This Presidential Young Investigator Award given in the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program provides support for the work of Dr. Steven Zimmerman, University of Illinois. This work is focused on two areas of mechanistic bioorganic chemistry: (1) the molecular recognition of DNA and (2) biomimetic chemistry. Molecular recognition of DNA will allow probes to be developed which selectively bind to DNA. These subsequently will provide the means for changing the properties of DNA so subtle alterations in its design can be made. Biomimetic studies will allow a better understanding of the various aspects of enzymatic catalysis. More specifically, molecular "tweezers" are being prepared which are expected to bind exclusively at the end of DNA helices or at structural abnormalities such as the proposed beta-kink site. In addition, major groove intercalators are being investigated. Biomimetic studies have produced a stereoelectronically correct charge relay model for chymotrypsin which is currently being studied in detail.