Precision Chemistry: Tools for Targeted Peptide and Protein Modification
Maciej Walczak
Associate Professor, University of Colorado
The ability to selectively modify peptides and proteins is crucial for advancing our understanding of biological processes and developing new therapeutic strategies. In this presentation, we will explore a range of chemical tools designed for the precise and selective modification of peptides and proteins. These methods enable the introduction of functional groups such as azolines, unnatural amino acids at specific sites, and macrocycles allowing for the manipulation of protein function and in bioconjugation. By leveraging these selective modification techniques, we can gain deeper insights into protein structure and function, paving the way for novel applications in drug development, diagnostics, and structural biology.
Maciej Walczak was born in Poland and received his undergraduate degree (maxima cum laude) from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. In 2003 he moved to the University of Pittsburgh, where he worked on the reactions of strained carbocycles and total synthesis bioactive alkaloids. After graduating in 2009, he moved to New York as a Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation postdoctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he was involved in the synthesis of glycoproteins, anticancer vaccines, and antimetastatic agents. In 2013 he started his independent career at the University of Colorado, Boulder as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. His research group focuses on the development of new tools and strategies to address present-day problems in chemistry and biology of peptides, proteins, and glycoconjugates.