CAREER: New Methods of Creating Artifical Receptors for Proteins

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Professor Mallik's research focuses on the design, synthesis and evaluation of liposome based receptors for protein surfaces. Mixed liposomes derived from metal containing lipids, polymerizable ionic lipids, and polymerizable hydrogen bonding lipids are equilibrated with the template protein carbonic anhydrase to create a three-dimensional, complementary replica of the protein surface. Synthetic targets include lipids containing differing head groups and photopolymerizable diene or diyne tails that, after equilibration, are photochemically polymerized to achieve a semi-rigid, protein-specific receptor. Efficacy of the photopolymerized template synthesis is quantified by measuring the protein-replica binding constants. Educational activities include introducing a graduate bio-organic course and addressing undergraduate needs by establishing a Virtual Organic Chemistry classroom on the Web to facilitate student-teacher communication. With this CAREER award, the Organic Dynamics Program supports the research and educational activities of Professor Sanku Mallik of the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Dakota. Professor Mallik's research is focused on the creation of a three-dimensional protein recognition surface by using a specific protein to direct the formation of a collection of molecules with which it interacts. Subsequent chemical linking of these molecules into a polymer effectively leaves a footprint of the protein in the resulting polymer. In contrast to the considerable synthetic effort involved in other approaches to molecular recognition, this approach is expected to generate simply and rapidly a highly specific binding site for the target protein. Professor Mallik's educational activities include developing a graduate curriculum targeting the interface between organic and biological chemistry and facilitating student-teacher communication through a Virtual Classroom on the Web.