B.S. 1981 Southwest Missouri State University
Ph.D. 1991 University of California at Berkeley
Postdoctoral Associate 1991-1993 Harvard Medical School

The three-dimensional structures of proteins have an inherent beauty. We explore the nature of protein structure by designing and synthesizing conformationally-constrained mimics of peptides, a process of sculpture on the molecular level. The molecules we design using computers are small and amenable to short, stereoselective synthesis using known reactions. We are making biopolymers inspired by the structural protein, collagen. We are making Pin1 and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, and investigating the anti-cancer potential of these compounds.

   

1. Dai, N.; Etzkorn, F. A. Cis-Trans Proline Isomerization Effects on Collagen Triple-Helix Stability Are Limited. J Am Chem Soc. 2009, 131, 13728-13732.  DOI: 10.1021/ja904177k
2. Dai, N.; Wang, X. J.; Etzkorn, F. A., The Effect of a Trans-Locked Gly-Pro Alkene Isostere on Collagen Triple Helix Stability. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, (16), 5396 - 5397.
3. Liu, T.; Kapustin, G.; Etzkorn, F. A. Design and synthesis of a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor. J. Med. Chem. 2007, 50, 2003-2006.
4. Schroeder, O. E.; Carper, E.; Wind, J. J.; Poutsma, J.; Etzkorn, F.; Poutsma, J. C. Theoretical and experimental investigation of the energetics of cis-trans proline isomerization in peptide models. J. Phys. Chem. A. 2006, 110, 6522-6530.
5. Wang XJ, Xu B, Mullins AB, Neiler FK, Etzkorn FA: Conformationally Locked Isostere of PhosphoSer-cis-Pro Inhibits Pin1 23-Fold Better than PhosphoSer-trans-Pro Isostere. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 15533-15542.