Progress Towards a Library of Potential Fungicides

Faculty Sponsor

Jeffrey Pruet

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Chemistry

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-29-2019

Abstract

Methionine Synthase (MetSyn) is an enzyme that uses folate and homocysteine to create the amino acid methionine, which is essential for all organisms. There are key differences between the fungal MetSyn enzyme and the mammalian (human) form, especially with regard to the proximity of the two binding sites for folate and homocysteine. Taking advantage of these differences, an antifungal drug could be developed to exclusively bind the fungal enzyme and inhibit fungal growth while leaving the host (patient) unaffected. We are currently exploring the synthesis of various molecules that mimic folate, an essential substrate for MetSyn function. We plan to screen these molecules against a multitude of fungal species as well as in an isolated system with the MetSyn enzyme itself.

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