Synthesis of heterocycles via copper mediated atom transfer radical cyclisation
Dr. Andrew J. Clark, U Warwick

Development of new strategies in synthesis of multifunctional materials
Assoc Prof Valiyaveettil Suresh , NUS

The Magic Tag^TM Kit: A tool for the chemical genomics approach to drug discovery
Dr. Paul C. Taylor, U Warwick

Both Andrew Clark and Paul Taylor are experienced synthetic organic chemists who apply their approaches to problems in total synthesis, synthetic methodology and catalysis. Both are also engaged in interdisciplinary programmes at the interfaces with both Engineering and Biology.

Manipulation and imaging of single chromatins
Asst Prof Yan Jie, NUS

In cells, DNAs are organized into chromatin fibers by many proteins. This talk will be focused on the application of the single-molecule manipulation and imaging techniques to the study of chromatin structures. This talk includes discussion of:

(1) A novel instrument for single-DNA manipulation we recently developed, and its applications to the study of the dynamical process of DNA being assembled into chromatins. Our results obtained in the last two years at show that: in the absence of ATP, interphase extracts assembled nucleosomes against DNA tensions of up to 3.5 pN; force-induced disassembly and opening/closing fluctuations were observed; addition of ATP led to highly dynamic behavior time courses show processive runs of assembly and disassembly of not observed in the ATP-depleted case, with forces of 2 pN leading to nearly complete fiber disassembly.

(2) Our recent result on the effects of H1 protein on the chromatin organization. Our elementary results obtained from single-DNA manipulation suggest that H1 leads to more condensed DNA condensate.

(3) Our recent development on chromatin imaging, which is independent and complimentary to the single-chromatin manipulation study.  Our methods allow us to image both the extended bead-on-a-string structures and the more compact and thicker chromatin fibers

Collaborators: Marko lab from U Illinois at Chicago led by Prof. John Marko, and Heald lab from U.C. Berkeley led by Prof. Rebecca Heald.

Probing peptide-inorganic interfaces using molecular simulation and first-principles calculations
Dr. Tiffany R. Walsh, U Warwick

Interfaces between organic and inorganic materials are important ingredients in emerging technologies based on manipulating material at the nanoscale. A good example is the interface that exists between inorganic materials and biological molecules. Using data from ab initio electronic structure theory calculations on small model systems, we can develop reliable force-fields to describe the important interactions at such interfaces, and apply these force-fields in large-scale simulations.

Catalysis of organic reactions: A computational approach
Assoc Prof Wong Ming Wah Richard, NUS

Seminar on horticulture (title to be confirmed)
Dr Kerry Burton, U Warwick

Forays into Bielschowskysin
Asst Prof Martin J. Lear , NUS

Controlling and untangling molecular dynamics with lasers
Dr. Vasilios Stavros , U Warwick

Our research focuses on ways we can manipulate chemical reactions using ultrafast laser pulses. The aim of our research is to develop a detailed understanding of what drives chemical reactions towards particular pathways and how we can influence these pathways using optical tricks.

"Catalomics": advanced chemical proteomic tools for high-throughput studies of enzymes
Assoc Prof Yao Shao Qin, NUS

Enzymes are arguably the most important class of proteins, practically involved in every biological process in the cellular machinery. Many classes of enzymes, e.g. proteases, kinases and phosphatases, are linked to a variety of diseases. We are interested in what is called "Catalomics" - the large-scale study of enzymes (and, in future, other catalytic molecules at the organism scale) by using a variety of chemical approaches developed both in our own laboratories and by others. Research in all aspects of enzymes are currently being pursued, ranging from the development if novel techniques for potential high-throughput identifications of enzymes, the detailed studies of enzyme reactions and kinetics, as well the way by which enzymes work inside a living organism, to the design, synthesis and screening of biologically interesting molecules which may module (e.g. activate or inhibit) enzyme activities. The ultimate aim of our research is to develop potential enzyme-targeting, drug candidates that help in the cure of major human diseases.