Water is the most abundant yet least understood liquid in nature. A recent collaborative study published in Nature sheds light on the ultrafast process of vibrational energy transfer in water molecules. “Hydrogen bonding, the molecular building block that gives water its special properties, is still not fully understood,” said Davide Donadio, professor of chemistry at UC Davis and a corresponding author on the paper.
In a recent JACS article, the Velázquez lab, in collaboration with the Musgrave lab from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder, showcased an interpretable machine-learned descriptor (Hd) capable of estimating decomposition enthalpy (ΔHd) to identify synthetically accessible molybdenum chalcogenides within the Chevrel Phase (CP) family from a set of 205,548 different CP compositions.
The collaboration of the Britt and Rauchfuss (UIUC) labs with the Nicolet group at Grenoble has revealed the structure of the Fe(II)(CO)2(CN)cysteine organometallic product of the HydG Fe-Fe hydrogenase “maturase” enzyme as bound and activated towards dimerization by HydE, the second radical SAM maturase enzyme in the hydrogenase H-cluster biosynthetic pathway.
Collaborative work between the Britt, Tantillo and Seyedsayamdost (Princeton University) labs uncovers the mechanism for a C–C bond forming streptococcal radical SAM enzyme, SuiB. SuiB is capable of cyclizing a precursor peptide to form a novel natural product called Streptide.
In a recent featured article in JOC, the Franz Lab has reported the hydrogen bond accepting (HBA) abilities of over 100 molecules quantified using rapid and simple 19F and 31P NMR methods. The article was also selected for cover art, which illustrates two female scientists working collaboratively to develop the method, reflective of the authors -- a diverse group of women, several who are BIPOC and/or first-generation college students.
In a recent JACS publication, the Beal lab in collaboration with the Fisher lab, Tantillo lab, and ProQR Therapeutics, used structural information from enzyme-RNA complexes to design chemical modifications that increase RNA editing yields via Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA (ADARs).
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.
