ORGN 215 |
| Bradley D. Smith, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5670 |
| The principles of supramolecular chemistry are used to design receptor compounds that recognize specific phospholipid head groups. The synthetic receptors are able to alter the function of biological membranes, or sense the phopholipid composition at the cell surface. For example, a steroid-derived receptor is shown to translocate phosphatidylserine across blood cell membranes, and thus scramble the natural asymmetric transmembrane distribution, which in turn induces activation of the critical blood coagulation enzyme, thrombin. An organometallic anthracene derivative has no apparent affinity for membranes composed only of zwitterionic phospholipids, but it becomes highly fluorescent upon binding to membranes containing small amounts of anionic phosphatidylserine. Since the sensor can detect the appearance of phosphatidylserine on the surface of cells, it can act as a sensor for the intermediate stages of cell apoptosis. Moreover, the sensor can provide the same apoptotic imaging information as dye-labeled annexin V, and is likely to be a cost effective substitute in many situations. |
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Supramolecular Chemistry and Molecular Recognition
8:30 AM-12:00 PM, Monday, September 8, 2003 Sheraton New York -- Imperial Ballroom B, Oral
Division of Organic Chemistry |