Date of Award:

12-2012

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Committee Chair(s)

Cheng-Wei Tom Chang

Committee

Cheng-Wei Tom Chang

Committee

Alvan C. Hengge

Committee

Bradley S. Davidson

Committee

Robert S. Brown

Committee

Jon Y. Takemoto

Abstract

The research described in this dissertation is at the interface of organic chemistry and biology, and it aimed at designing and synthesizing biologically active molecules for the possible development of therapeutic agents.

Spinal muscular atrophy is an incurable disease that affects 1 in every 6000 babies, making it the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. While no treatment is available, efforts are being taken to solve this issue. Part of the work outlined in this dissertation was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the University of Missouri to investigate a potential therapeutic for this disease.

In addition, the continuous outbreak of diseases caused by bacteria demands for new and improved antibiotics that could help eradicate those pathogens. My research thus allowed me to discover molecules with interesting activity against bacteria for the possible development of potential antibacterial agents.

Finally, my research also allowed me to develop potential agro fungicides, which are still very much needed nowadays. Many crop diseases are due to fungal infections,which globally cause enormous economic losses. The use of fungicides is still the main strategy to control these diseases. However, current agro fungicides show some limitations. This is illustrated with Fusarium head blight (FHB), a destructive and costly disease of wheat, barley and other small grains, whose economic losses in the Central United States alone were estimated to $2.7 billion.

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