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About Me
My name is Sarah, and I am a biology/chemistry (biochemistry emphasis) double major from Chicago, IL. For the last two years, I have worked in the Brisbois Lab at Macalester, conducting research in organic chemistry. This past year, I explored how my research in Organic Chemistry also allows me to pursue my passion for biology, which pushed me to study metal coordination and biosensors. This research sparked my interest in synthesis, motivating me to pursue a degree in drug discovery and development. In the future, I plan to take a gap year before pursuing a PhD in biochemistry/medicinal chemistry. During my time at Macalester, I was a fellow for Team Impact, a program that supports kids with chronic illness and disabilities, a chemistry lab TA and SI, and worked as a sports medicine assistant. Outside of school, I like to play the guitar, mountain bike, play soccer, and go on adventures with my friends.
Abstract
Biosensors combine biological components with physicochemical detectors to analyze and understand biological reactions and systems. Through the synthesis of triazoles bearing purine moieties, which offer pockets for potential metal coordination, we begin to study the importance of metal detection in biology and explore the qualities necessary for potential biosensor precursors. The 1,2,3-triazole scaffold is an important pharmacophore and a versatile, increasingly leveraged, substructure in biochemical, materials, polymers, and metal-coordinating applications. The purpose of this research was to explore the intersection between biochemical and metal-coordinating applications of triazoles through the synthesis of potential biosensor precursors. Using a terminal alkyne, we investigated cross-couplings that enabled the synthesis of novel fluorescent triazoles from anthracene. We have successfully made fluorescent organic compounds that have potential function as biosensor precursors, and are beginning to explore the selectivity in metal coordination of these molecules, to determine the projects that could employ them.
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