PhD in Chemistry: Design and Synthesis of Novel Peptidomimetics as Probes for Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are essential in almost every biological process. The ability to regulate PPIs using chemical probes is therefore extremely important for studying the nature of these molecular recognition events and the development of novel therapeutics. However, the development of cell-permeable chemical probes that regulate PPIs remains one of the major challenges in chemical biology due to the relatively large, dynamic nature of the PPI interface.

Recent research in the Jamieson Group (Org. Biomol. Chem., 2017, 15, 4704-4710; Nat. Comm., 2016, 7, 11262; ACS Chem. Bio., 2016, 11, 3383-3390.) has focused on developing synthetic strategies to conformationally constrain peptides to adopt their bioactive conformation and also overcome many of the poor physicochemical and pharmacological issues associated with peptides.

The central aim of this project is to develop a new conformational constraint that can be applied to biologically relevant peptides and proteins.

Specific objectives:

1. Computational design of a novel peptide constraint.
2. Develop synthetic chemistry required to incorporate this constraint into peptides and proteins using modern synthetic chemistry and state-of-the-art, automated solid phase peptide synthesis.
3. Application of this new strategy to the regulation of important, biologically relevant protein targets. This element of the project will be achieved in collaboration with colleagues in the biological sciences.

Applicants should hold (or expect to be awarded) a first class or upper-second class Masters degree (MSci, MChem, MSc, MRes) or equivalent in Chemistry and have research experience in synthetic organic chemistry or chemical biology.

Informal enquires are encouraged via email ([Email Address Removed])