1. DNA Chemical biology, anti-cancer drug development targeting

mismatched base pair of DNA, cytotoxicity evaluation in cell and in vivo.

2. Development of Pyrrole-Imidazole (Py-Im) polyamides as novel chemical

biology probe.

3. Novel methodology to construct high-valence sulfur-containing

compounds.

4. Novel “non-catalytic” methodology development.

Chemical Biology (Bachelor/Graduate)

Research in our group primarily spans into two major branches: chemical biology and organic methodology.

Our chemical biology projects are centered around DNA recognization. Non-Watson-Crick (mismatched) base pairs of DNA were considered to be the major cause of cancer, and the ratios among mismatched base pairs varied dramatically in different types of cancer cell lines. A family of synthetic peptides, namely Pyrrole-Imidazole Polyamides (PIP), is designed and synthesized to bind to mismatched base pairs in the ocean of Watson-Click base pairs with high affinity and specificity. The recognization of mismatched base pairs will be demonstrated on cancer cells and animal models in the long goal to developed bioactive peptides in the treatment of cancer.

The methodology research in our group will be focused on the combination of transition-metal catalysis and main group chemistry. We develop state-of-art methods to afford molecules with main-group-containing functional group, such sulfoxides, sulfones, and sulfoximines. We are also interested in developing modern “non-catalytic” transformations.