Final Chemistry Ph.D. Seminar on Modifying Peptides
Thursday, April 5, 2018
The seminar will be held on Tuesday April 10, 2018 from 5:45 – 7 p.m. in the Helen Lerner Amphitheater, Science and Technology Center, Seton Hall University. Refreshments are available at 5:30 p.m.
Neelam Lahankar holds Bachelor's in Education and Master's of Science in Organic Chemistry from India. She joined the Seton Hall Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2014 and she joined the research group of Dr. Monika Raj in December 2014. She has published one paper, "Glutamic Acid Selective Chemical Cleavage of Peptide Bonds." She has one additional manuscript under review and 3 manuscripts are in progress.
Peptides, though are often used in therapeutics due to high degree of specificity in their biological action, do not have good cell permeability and serum stability needed for drugs. To address these problems of peptides, and for protein sequencing essential for drug development, two modifications of peptides were done. In the first modification done for protein sequencing, a method to cyclize peptide at glutamic acid residue and then to cleave the peptide specifically at N- terminal of cyclized glutamic acid residue was developed. With this method, polypeptides in proteins can be shortened into smaller The second modification of peptides was done to increase their cell permeability and enhance their stability to improve their therapeutic applications. Fragments were formed by selective cleavage at glutamic acid, which makes protein sequencing easier and faster. These can be used as mild organocatalysts to carry out a range of organic reactions like Michael addition.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees with specializations in all areas of chemistry. Our unique research environment, including traditional full-time students and part-time students is designed to foster collaborations with industry and colleagues in other disciplines. The Rose Mercadante Seminar Series is named for Rose Mercadante, the departmental secretary for over 40 years, in honor of our alumni, her "boys and girls."
