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In a recent Cell publication, the Olson and Tian Labs describe psychLight—the first biosensor capable of measuring hallucinogenic potential.  They then used the sensor to identify AAZ—a non-hallucinogenic analog of psychedelics that produces sustained antidepressant-like effects after a single administration.

The latest publication from the Murray Laboratory describes new structural characteristics of the transcription factor protein TDP-43 and provides insight into the pathology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontal Temporal Dementia. The work has been honored by the American Chemical Society as an Editor’s Choice Article because it embodies the society’s goal of improving the human experience using the power of chemistry.

In a recent Nature publication, the Olson Lab used function-oriented synthesis to engineer tabernanthalog (TBG)—a non-hallucinogenic, non-cardiotoxic analog of the psychedelic ibogaine.  In addition to having an improved safety profile, TBG promoted neuroplasticity and demonstrated both antidepressant and antiaddictive properties.  This work highlights the power of synthetic organic chemistry for solving problems in neuroscience and medicine.

The Yb₁₄MSb₁₁ (M = Zn, Mn, Mg, referred to as 14-1-11) system is often recognized for its great thermoelectric efficiency at high temperature.  The Kauzlarich group (Allan He, Elizabeth L.

The chemical basis for detecting rare DNA lesions by base excision repair enzymes has captivated the imagination of the DNA repair field since it represents a statistically improbable feat. A collaboration between Sheila David’s lab and Andrea Lee’s lab at the University of Vermont provided key insights into the lesion recognition process by one such DNA repair enzyme. MutY, and it’s human homolog MUTYH, are adenine glycosylases proficient in locating rare and mutagenic OG:A mispairs and distinguishing them from structurally similar undamaged DNA.

In a recent publication (Berben and coworkers, Journal of American Chemical Society, 2020) the Berben Lab brings to light an approach for enhancing rates of hydrogen evolution using a metal-metal bonded molecular catalyst. Experiments demonstrate that [Co₁₃C₂(CO)₂₄]⁴⁻, containing multiple metal-metal bonds boosts the rate of hydrogen evolution compared to single-site metal complexes.

In a recent publication (Jagannathan and coworkers) in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the Franz lab has joined forces with the Shaw lab to develop a new catalytic Si-H insertion reaction using diarylcarbenes that allows selective synthesis of chiral-at-silicon compounds with high yield and enantioselectivity. The incorporation of silicon-centered chirality into more complex structures such as drug candidates, polymers, and ligands is limited because there is a shortage of synthetic methods to access these chiral molecules.

The quantum mechanical potential energy of a molecule along torsion (dihedral angle) degrees of freedom is a crucial factor in the conformational flexibility of molecules, and plays a major role in the development of force fields for molecular simulation.  In a recent publication in the Journal of Chemical Physics, the Wang research group describes an improved workflow for computing these potential energy surfaces using a recursive wavefront propagation algorithm.  The new algorithm improves on existing approaches because it is less likely to get stuck in high-energy loca

In a recent publication (Perryman and coworkers, featured on the back cover of Journal of Materials Chemistry C, “Emerging Investigators” themed issue, available in early August 2020) the Velázquez Lab describes for the first time experimental evidence of microwave-induced 1-dimensional growth of a compositionally modular pseudo-Chevrel-Phase chalcogenide nanorod framework.

In a recent publication, the Olson Lab used a variety of chemical tools to demonstrate that the marine natural product bryostatin 1 increases synaptogenesis while simultaneously reducing the number of protrusions that harbor synapses.  This unique effect has the potential to improve signal-to-noise ratio in the central nervous system and could possible explain why the natural product improves memory.  Bryostatin 1 is currently being investigated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.