Our lab has pursued development of methods to allow selective incorporation of diverse functionality into synthetic polypeptide materials. Specifically, we have developed synthetic methods that allow a robust variety of modifications to the nucleophilic thioether containing side-chains in methionine residues. The sequential combination of methionine alkylation to create sulfonium groups, followed by sulfonium demethylation to restore thioether groups with introduction of side-chain functionality has emerged as a powerful strategy to convert natural methionine residues into new, highly functional amino acids. We also have recently developed methods to incorporate electrophilic groups into polypeptides, which facilitate reactions of polypeptides with functional nucleophiles. The combination of selective nucleophilic and electrophilic reactive groups in polypeptides was found to allow preparation of a diverse range of functional copolypeptides.

Selective chemical modification of polypeptides to mimic complex biopolymer functionality

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.