Fragment-Based Ligand Discovery Using Protein-Observed
19F NMR: A Second Semester Organic Chemistry CURE Project.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION 2021;
98:1963-1973. [PMID:
37274366 PMCID:
PMC10237086 DOI:
10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00028]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Curriculum-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have been shown to increase student retention in STEM fields and are starting to become more widely adopted in chemistry curricula. Here we describe a 10-week CURE that is suitable for a second-semester organic chemistry laboratory course. Students synthesize small molecules and use protein-observed 19F (PrOF) NMR to assess the small molecule's binding affinity to a target protein. The research project introduced students to multistep organic synthesis, structure-activity relationship studies, quantitative biophysical measurements (measuring Kd from PrOF NMR experiments), and scientific literacy. Docking experiments could be added to help students understand how changes in a ligand structure may affect binding to a protein. Assessment using the CURE survey indicates self-perceived skill gains from the course that exceed gains measured in a traditional and an inquiry-based laboratory experience. Given the speed of the binding experiment and the alignment of the synthetic methods with a second-semester organic chemistry laboratory course, a PrOF NMR fragment-based ligand discovery lab can be readily implemented in the undergraduate chemistry curriculum.
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