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Emmanuel Theodorakis
Synthetic, Medicinal, Bioorganic and Biological Chemistry, Methods and Strategies in Natural Products Chemistry
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| Contact Information |
| Office: PACH 5225A |
| Phone: (858) 822-0456 |
| Fax: (858) 822-0386 |
| Email: etheodor@ucsd.edu |
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| Education and Appointments |
| 1993 |
Ph.D., Paris XI University
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| 1989 |
M.S., Paris XI University
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| 1987 |
B.S., University of Athens
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| Awards and Academic Honors |
| 1993-1995 |
Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Scripps Research Institute |
| Research Interests |
The Theodorakis group is engaged in the study of small molecules that can be used as biological tools to control cellular function and as lead structures for the discovery of new therapeutic agents. Building upon the foundations of organic chemistry, the research program invokes interdisciplinary interactions with other fields such as bioengineering, biochemistry, pharmacology and molecular and cellular biology. The ultimate goal of this program is the application of organic synthesis for the investigation of interesting questions or problems in biology and medicine. Our current research activities are focused on two topics: the natural products-driven synthesis and chemical biology and the development of fluorescent biosensors.
Studies in Natural Products Synthesis and Chemical Biology
In addition to their role in drug development, natural products represent unique targets of opportunities for discoveries in the science of chemistry. In fact, natural products synthesis could be viewed as the best way to test the scope and limitations of known and/or new reactions thereby enhancing our general knowledge of chemical reactivity. In turn, this knowledge can be used for the construction of privileged structures and can facilitate pharmacologically-relevant chemical modifications of the target natural product. The Theodorakis group is engaged in the study of innovative methods and strategies applicable to natural products synthesis. Development of sequence of reactions that can generate structural complexity, in particular multiple carbon-carbon bond forming cascades, constitute the basis of this program. In addition, efforts to translate chemical reactivity of the target molecules to biological properties promise to yield important insights regarding natural products-based cellular biology, mode of action and potential drug development.
Chemical tools for biomolecular imaging and fluorescent biosensors
Variations in fluid viscosity are linked to a variety of functions and diseases both at the cellular level and at the organismal level. Based on this, it has been proposed that monitoring of biofluid viscosity could provide a diagnostic tool for the detection of diseases. The Theodorakis group has initiated a program directed toward the development of fluorescent sensors for measurements of fluid viscosity and fluid flow in areas such as the cell membrane, liposomes, blood and microfluidic chambers. The biomedical and bioengineering applications of these nanoviscometers are explored.
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| Primary Research Area: |
Interdisciplinary Specialties: |
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Organic Chemistry
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Bioorganic
Synthesis
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| Selected Publications |
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Brady, T. P.; Kim, S. H.; Wen, K.; Theodorakis, E. A. "Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Norrisolide" Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 739-742.
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Tisdale, E. J.; Slobodov, I; Theodorakis, E. A. "Unified Synthesis of Caged Garcinia Natural Products Based on a Site-Selective Claisen/Diels-Alder/Claisen Rearrangement" Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 2004, 101, 12030-12035.
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Brady, T. P.; Kim, S. H.; Wen, K.; Kim, C.; Theodorakis, E. A. "Norrisolide: Total Synthesis and Related Studies" Chemistry Eur. J. 2005, 11, 7175-7190.
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Haidekker, M. A.; Brady, T. P.; Lichlyter, D.; Theodorakis, E. A. "A Ratiometric Fluorescent Viscosity Sensor" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 398-399.
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Guizzunti, G.; Brady, T. P.; Malhotra, V. Theodorakis E. A. "Chemical Analysis of Norrisolide-Induced Golgi Vesiculation" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 4190-4191.
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Batova, A.; Lam, Thanh, Wascholowski, V.; Yu, A. L.; Giannis, A.; Theodorakis, E. A. "Synthesis and Evaluation of Caged Garcinia Xanthones" Org. & Biomol. Chem. 2007, 5, 494-500.
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Haidekker, M. A.; Theodorakis, E. A. "Molecular rotors; Fluorescent biosensors for viscosity and flow" Org. & Biomol. Chem. 2007, 5, 1669-1678.
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