CAREER: Elaborate Biomimetic Architectures

在有机和高分子化学项目的这一职业奖项的支持下，纽约大学的Kent Kirshenbaum教授将通过建立研究合成聚合物中折叠的新方法，继续仿生化学的基础研究。精确控制三维复杂化学结构的能力将为分子提供复杂的性质，如特定的分子识别和催化。该项目将探索一系列多功能蛋白质模拟物的设计、合成、表征和应用：序列特定的N-取代甘氨酸聚合物，也被称为‘类肽’。一些类肽序列已被证明采用稳定的螺旋构象。该研究计划将重点放在这类化合物上，因为类肽可以有效地模拟更复杂的二级和三级结构。这些努力将包括引入大环约束以加强类肽构象的稳定性，设计新的折叠基序，类肽片段的酶连接，类肽大分子的合成，以及折叠类肽的结构表征。我们将加强对大分子折叠及其在功能化学结构设计中的应用的理解。在获得有机化学和高分子化学项目的这一职业奖项后，Kirshenbaum教授将在他的研究中利用实验方法，他的研究将跨越生物有机化学、物理化学和高分子工程学科。该项目将通过加强发现适合不同材料和生物医学应用的化学结构，产生更广泛的影响。该研究计划将为本科生和研究生提供一个良好的培训环境，以获得从生物纳米技术到有机合成和药物设计等领域的技能。Kirshenbaum教授将建立一种创新的方法，向纽约市公立学校系统中来自不同背景的学生介绍高分子化学主题。与纽约大学施泰因哈特教育学院合作，将开发“分子食谱”的教育模块。演示如何使用特殊美味的食品聚合物，让学生了解到我们每天都在厨房里进行化学反应；分子的组织可以受我们的控制；化学对我们呼吸、饮料和饮食的方方面面都有影响。

With the support of this CAREER award from the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program, Professor Kent Kirshenbaum of New York University will pursue fundamental research in biomimetic chemistry by establishing new approaches for the study of folding in synthetic polymers. The ability to control precisely the architecture of complex chemical structures in three dimensions will provide molecules with sophisticated properties, such as specific molecular recognition and catalysis. The project will explore the design, synthesis, characterization and applications of a versatile family of protein mimics: sequence-specific N-substituted glycine polymers, also termed 'peptoids'. Some peptoid sequences have been shown to adopt stable helical conformations. The research program will focus upon this class of compounds since peptoids can effectively mimic more complex secondary and tertiary structures. The efforts will include the introduction of macrocyclic constraints to enforce peptoid conformational stability, design of novel folding motifs, enzymatic ligation of peptoid fragments, synthesis of peptoid macromolecules, and the structural characterization of folded peptoids. An enhanced understanding of macromolecular folding and its application in the design of functional chemical structures will be developed.With this CAREER award from the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program, Professor Kirshenbaum will utilize experimental approaches in his research that will span the disciplines of bioorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and macromolecular engineering. This project will yield broader impacts by enhancing the discovery of chemical structures suitable for diverse materials and biomedical applications. The research program will provide an excellent training environment for undergraduate and graduate students to obtain skills in fields ranging from bionanotechnology to organic synthesis and drug design. Professor Kirshenbaum will establish an innovative approach to introduce topics in Macromolecular Chemistry to students from diverse backgrounds in the New York City Public School system. Working in partnership with New York University's Steinhardt School of Education, educational modules in 'Molecular Gastronomy' will be developed. Demonstrations utilizing unusual and delicious preparations of food polymers will allow students to learn that we perform chemical reactions in our kitchens on a daily basis; that the organization of molecules can be subjected to our control; and that Chemistry has an influence in every aspect of what we breathe, drink and eat.