Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Cancelled Professor Audrey Lamb from the University of Texas at San Antonio will present a seminar. Evidence for the chemical mechanism of dihydroxybutanone phosphate (DHBP) synthase from riboflavin biosynthesis Abstract: RibB (3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase) is a magnesium-dependent enzyme that excises the C4 of D-ribulose-5-phosphate (D-Ru5P) as formate. This chemistry forms the four-carbon substrate for RibE (lumazine synthase) that is incorporated into the xylene moiety of lumazine and ultimately the riboflavin isoalloxazine. The reaction was first identified in studies by Bacher [...]

Professor Alison Fout from Texas A&M will present a seminar. Host: Dr. Elizabeth Papish

Professor Loi Do from the University of Houston will present a seminar. Catalytic Agents to Detoxify Reactive Aldehyde Species Abstract Although the human body has natural defenses against reactive aldehydes species (e.g., α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, α-ketoaldehydes, dialdehydes, etc.), these systems are often impaired in patients with pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, or cancer. Reactive aldehydes species can disrupt living systems by alkylating nucleic acids, crosslinking proteins, and consuming essential antioxidants. Although there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for [...]