Education
Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology in China. B.S. (Polymer Science) 1982.
Rutgers State University of New Jersey. Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry) 1986.
Honors, Fellowships, etc.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Columbia University: 1986-1989
Leukemia Society Special Fellowship, The Leukemia Society of America: 1989-1990
Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, The Oak Ridge Associated Universities: 1993
W.M. Keck Center Program Participant
Baylor College of Medicine SCBMB
UH BCHS
gao@kitten.chem.uh.edu
(713) 743-2805
Interdisciplinary research activities in this laboratory involve (1) synthesis-purification and (2) high field NMR studies of biologically relevant molecules. Students are encouraged to learn skills and develop research interests in both areas.
Large biological systems are often complicated and appear beyond comprehension. We tackle such difficulties by two approaches. One is to study the intact systems when possible; and the second is to design simple and defined model molecules which are relevant to their natural parents and amenable to NMR studies. Specific questions, such as molecular recognition, molecular conformation, and structure-function relationships, can be addressed by this approach.
Specifically, our interests in synthesis focus on important biological molecules, such as oligonucleotides, peptides, small proteins, and their ligand complexes. We adopt both chemical and enzymatic pathways to prepare riboligonucleotides, while synthetic routes need to be developed for preparing desired molecules of unusual chemical stnuctures. We are also interested in developing methods for synthesizing 13C, 15N, and 2H labelled compounds for large systems which can greatly simplify NMR data interpretation.
NMR structure elucidation involves performing multidimensional multinuclear experiments, spectral analysis, and computation. Students will have the opportunity to learn the use of a high field NMR instrument (600 MHz spectrometer equipped with computer interfaced multichannel frequency transmitters) as well as computer and graphic systems. It is our interest to apply and improve the current NMR methods for effective study of biological molecules. One of the examples in this area is the automation of resonance assignments in a variety of NMR experiments.
NMR is a powerful tool for probing local conformation and microscopic kibetic propertics. We apply several experimental techniques to exiamine the relaxation and exchange behavior of biological molecules. This should provide insights into the microscopic thermal and kinetic properties of a molecule.
Other physical measurements, such as temperature variable UV and circular dichroism spectroscopy, are employed to assist in understanding the behavior of the molecules under study.
"Two- and three-dimensional NMR studies of the Dodeca-DNA*DNA duplex containing a 3'-thioformacetal linkage. Detection of an unusual backbone conformation." Gao, X., and Jeffs, P. W., J. Biomol. NMR 4, 17-34 (1994).
"NMR studies of a hybrid DNA*RNA dodeca-duplex. 3D NOESY-NOESY spectral analysis and sequence dependent conformational heterogeneity." Gao, X., and Jeffs, P. W., J. Biomol. NMR 4, 367-384 (1994).
"TCG triplet inversion in an antiparallel pur*pur*pyr DNA triplex. Conformational studies by NMR." Dittrich, K., Gu, J., Tinder, R., Hogan, M., and Gao, X., Biochemistry 33, 4111-4120 (1994).
"Structure of a post-activated neocarzinostatin chromophore-DNA complex." Gao, X., Stassinopoulos, A., Rice, J. S., and Goldberg, I. H., Biochemistry 34, 40-49 (1995).
"Selective acylation of N-(2-Phosphonoethyl) ethylenediamine phosphonates." Wang, W., Liang, C., Zheng, M., and Gao, X., Tetrahedron Letters 36, 1181-1184 (1995).