Membranes Best Paper Award 2017 - to Prof. Drew Marquardt

Membranes Best Paper Award 2017 - to Prof. Drew Marquardt

Drew Marquardt’s paper titled "Asymmetric Lipid Membranes: Towards More Realistic Model Systems" was selected as the first prize of the Membranes Best Paper Award.

From: Membranes 2015, 5, 180-196

For more information on Prof. Marquardt's research, click here!

Season's Greetings from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Season's Greetings

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry would like to wish everyone the best during this holiday season!

Happy new year, and see you in 2018!

UWinChemBiochem Christmas Luncheon - Thurs., Dec. 21, 2017 @ 12 pm

UWinChemBiochem Christmas Luncheon 

We are planning a Christmas luncheon on Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 12:00-2:00p.m. in the chemistry conference room #273 Essex Hall.  

Tickets are $5.00 and must be purchased by Tuesday, December 19, 2017 from either Cathy or myself.   Ticket price at the door will be $100.00.  (Get the hint, you need to let us know in advance if you're coming).

Food will include: Pasta, chicken, another meat, salad, rolls, vegetarian dishes, pop, and dessert.

We need to order the food on Tuesday, December 19th, so please purchase your ticket soon.  

All faculty, staff, graduate students, post docs, mmb students, and friends are welcome!

See Marlene Bezaire or Catherine Wilson for tickets!

Paul Zelisko (Brock University) - Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.

Seminar: Paul Zelisko (Brock University)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Paul Zelisko
Department of Chemistry 
Silicon and Silicone Chemistry and Centre for Biotechnology
Brock University
Title: “Chemoenzymatic Routes to Unique Siloxane Materials”
Web: https://brocku.ca/node/9904

Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Nature Chemistry, Johnson group: Using nickel clusters to selectively cleave C=C bonds!

Using nickel clusters to selectively cleave C=C bonds!

Congratulations to Ph.D. student Manar Shoshani and Prof. Sam Johnson on the publication of their work on the use of pentanuclear nickel clusters for the selective cleavage of C=C bonds in alkenes!  These clusters are selective in that they do not attack functional groups, and operate to give quantitative yields at temperatures down to −30 °C!

Click here for more information on Prof. Johnson's research.

See the original article at this link!

Carbons and hydrogens associated with the phosphine ligands and disorder of C(9) and C(10) are omitted for clarity. This 72-electron [Ni5]6+ cluster reveals the triple C–H bond activation of one styrene vinyl moiety, shown in blue, which is coordinated to all five nickel centres prior to C–C cleavage. Two iPr3P groups are replaced by a coordinated styrene moiety, shown in red.

Seminar: Prof. Eric Munson, University of Kentucky - Monday, December 11, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.

Seminar: Prof. Eric Munson, University of Kentucky

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Prof. Eric Munson
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Kentucky
Title: “Solid-State NMR Studies of Crystalline and Amorphous Organic Solids: Applications to Pharmaceuticals”
Web: http://pharmacy.uky.edu/faculty/emu222/Eric-Munson

Monday, December 11, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Seminar: Prof. John Protasiewicz, Case Western Reserve University - Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.

Seminar: Prof. John Protasiewicz, Case Western Reserve University

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Prof. John Protasiewicz
Department of Chemistry
Case Western Reserve University
Title: Phosphorus as an element for hybrid inorganic-organic materials having interesting optoelectronic properties
Web: http://chemistry.case.edu/faculty/john-protasiewicz/

Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

GCC Christmas Party - Thurs. Dec. 7, 2017 - 7 p.m. - Rock Bottom

The Grad Chem Club Presents: 
A CHRISTMAS PARTY

Thurs. Dec. 7, 2017 
Starting time: 7:00 p.m.
Rock Bottom - 3236 Sandwich St, Windsor, ON

Tickets: $10 (includes appetizers & drink ticket)

Please contact:
Ashley DaDalt (Essex rm. 274-3),
Nadia Stephaniuk (Essex rm. 387),
Austin Peach (Essex rm. 389-1),
or email chemclub@uwindsor.ca for tickets 
Deadline:  Friday, December 1st

Safety Seminar - Chem & Biochem - Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 @ 3 p.m. in 206 Toldo

Safety Seminar

"It doesn’t happen by accident"

________________________________________________________________________________

• All undergraduate students working in the labs
• All graduate students
• Post docs
• Visiting Students
• Faculty & Staff

**This is a mandatory seminar and all students must attend**

Friday, November 24, 2017
3:00 p.m.
Room #206 Toldo Building
**Everyone Welcome**

Seminar: Dr. Kari Rissanen (University of Jyväskylä, Finland) - Thurs. Nov. 23 @ 3:00 pm

Seminar: Dr. Kari Rissanen (University of Jyväskylä, Finland)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Dr. Kari Rissanen
Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Survontie Finland
Title: "Haloniumsupramolecular Chemistry, New Molecular Capsules"
https://www.jyu.fi/kemia/tutkimus/orgaaninen/en/research/rissanen

Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #109 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Abstract:

In contemporary crystal engineering halogen bonding is booming due to its directionality, specificity and high strength allowing preparation of highly complex structures with a high degree of accuracy and precision.1-3 Surprisingly, yet being the most difficult to achieve, hollow molecular assemblies solely based on halogen bonding have only very recently been achieved. Our group4 and Francois Diederich5 (ETH, Zürich) both published, in 2015 and nearly simultaneously, the first molecular capsules solely based on halogen bonds. Even though halogen bonding is more directional than hydrogen bonding it is even more sensitive to the environment and has thus mostly been demonstrated in the solid-state. Studies on halogen bond donor cavitands6 and collaboration with Mate Erdelyi (University of Gothenburg, Sweden, at present Uppsala University) on halonium ion based halogen-bonded complexes7 based on [N···Ag+···N] to [N···I+···N] cation exchange reaction inspired us to exploit halonium ions as very robust halogen bond donors. The first supramolecular, halonium ion mediated, dimeric capsule8 is based on a resorcinarene-based, conformationally fixed cavitand that is functionalized with four adjacent meta-pyridyl units acting as the XB acceptors. Assembly of the two cavitands first with silver(I) cations followed by a subsequent reaction of the dimeric silver capsule with molecular iodine leads to [N···I+···N] halogen-bonded dimeric capsule through [N···Ag+···N] to [N···I+···N] cation exchange reaction.8 Most recently we have managed to create an extremely robust large, even hexameric, halogen-bonded molecular capsules with the help of [N•••I+•••N] halogen bonds.9-10

References

 1. a) G. Cavallo, P. Metrangolo, R. Milani, T. Pilati, A. Priimagi, G. Resnati, G. Terraneo, Chem. Rev. 116  (2016),

2478.

2. G. R. Desiraju, P. S. Ho, L. Kloo, A. C. Legon, R. Marquardt, P. Metrangolo, P. A. Politzer, G. Resnati, K

Rissanen, Pure Appl. Chem. 85  (2013), 1711.

3. K. Rissanen, CrystEngComm. 10  (2008), 1107.

4. N. K. Beyeh, F. Pan, K. Rissanen, Angew. Chem., 54  (2015), 7303.

5. O. Dumele, N. Trapp, F. Diederich, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 54  (2015), 12339.

6. L. Turunen, N. K. Beyeh, F. Pan, A. Valkonen and K. Rissanen, Chem. Commun. 50  (2014), 15920.

7. a) M. Bedin, A. Karim, M. Reitti, A.-C. C. Carlsson, F. Topic, M. Cetina, F. Pan, V. Havel, F. Al-Ameri, V.

Sindelar, K. Rissanen, J. Gräfenstein and M. Erdélyi, Chem. Sci . 6  (2015), 3746; b) A.-C. C. Carlsson, K.

Mehmeti, M. Uhrbom, A. Karim, M. Bedin, R. Puttreddy, R. Kleinmaier, A. A. Neverov, B. Nekouesihahraki, J.

Gräfenstein, K. Rissanen and M. Erdélyi, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 138  (2016), 9853; c) K. Rissanen and M. Haukka, Top.

Curr. Chem. 359  (2015), 77., d) L. Koskinen, P. Hirva, E. Kalenius, S. Jääskeläinen, K. Rissanen and M. Haukka,

CrystEngComm 17  (2015), 1231.

8. L. Turunen, U. Warzok, R. Puttreddy, N. K. Beyeh, C. A. Schalley and K. Rissanen, Angew. Chem. 55  (2016), 14239.

9. L. Turunen, A. Peuronen, S. Forsblom, E. Kalenius, M. Lahtinen and K. Rissanen, Chem. Eur. J. 23  (2017), 11714.

10. L. Turunen, U. Warzok, C. A. Schalley and K. Rissanen, Chem  (2017), in press. DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2017.08.010

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Biochemistry

Official link: 

http://www1.uwindsor.ca/faculty/recruitment/tenure-track-assistant-professor-position-in-biochemistry

Job Posting Number: 

 002023TT-2018-CHE

Deadline Date: 

 Wednesday, January 03, 2018

The University of Windsor's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, in the Faculty of Science, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Biochemistry, commencing July 1, 2018. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has strong undergraduate and graduate programs, along with fundamental and applied research in Chemistry and Biochemistry.  Currently the Department has 22+ faculty and 11 support staff.  Research areas include: health-related biochemistry, environmental and protein chemistry, the preparation and characterization of advanced biomaterials, synthetic inorganic and organic chemistry, and solid-state chemistry.  Our research programs are funded by the national granting councils (NSERC, CIHR), industrial sponsors and private funding agencies (HSFC, CRS, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Seeds4Hope Foundation, etc.).  We have a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair among our talented contingent of faculty.  Our department is also home to the Center for Catalysis and Materials Research (CCMR) and actively participates in the Windsor Cancer Research Group http://www.uwindsor.ca/chemistry.

The ideal candidate must possess a PhD in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, or related fields.  The incumbent is expected to establish a vibrant, externally funded research program in any area of experimental Biochemistry; however, exceptional candidates from other areas will also be considered. Significant financial resources and dedicated laboratory space are associated with this faculty position. The appointee will have access to state-of-the-art facilities for genomics, proteomics, biophysical characterization, imaging, NMR, X-ray, which will be located in a new Faculty of Science Research & Innovation Facility (Spring 2018 occupancy).

The candidate is expected to train graduate/undergraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, teach undergraduate and graduate courses in biochemistry, and participate in the delivery of our successful professional graduate programs. In addition, an outstanding record of research productivity, and a willingness to work in a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment are expected.

Application Requirements

• a letter of application, including a statement of citizenship/immigration status;
• a detailed and current curriculum vitae;
• two (2) page outline of research interests and accomplishments;
• a draft NSERC Discovery Grant research proposal (up to 5 pages with 2 additional pages of references)
• samples of scholarly writing (up to 3), including (if applicable) clear indications of your contribution to any jointly authored pieces;
• a teaching dossier or teaching portfolio showing a potential for or evidence of teaching effectiveness and excellence that will include sample course syllabi/outlines, teaching evaluations, and a statement of teaching philosophy and interests (resources and templates for completing a teaching dossier can be found at http://www.uwindsor.ca/ctl/links-pd);
• graduate transcripts; and
• three (3) current letters of reference forwarded directly by the referees to the Head at the address or email listed below.

Only those applicants selected for interview will be contacted.  The short-listed candidates may be invited to provide further information in support of their applications.  To ensure full consideration, complete an online application found on the job advertisement (http://www.uwindsor.ca/facultypositions), and ensure letters of reference are submitted by the deadline date of January 3, 2018.  Applications may be considered after the deadline date; however, acceptance of late submissions is at the discretion of the appointments committee. 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION

When completing the online application, please reference:

Position Number: 002023TT-2018-CHE

Questions and Reference Letters to be sent to:
Dr. Charles Macdonald, Head, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,
University of Windsor 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4,
Phone: 519-253-3000 Ext. 3526; Fax: 519-973-7098;
Email: chembiohead@uwindsor.ca

The University of Windsor is a comprehensive research and teaching institution with more than 15,500 students.  We are a welcoming community committed to equity and diversity in our teaching, learning, and work environments.  In pursuit of the University's Employment Equity Plan, members from the designated groups (Women, Aboriginal Peoples, Visible Minorities, Persons with Disabilities, and Sexual Minorities) are encouraged to apply and to self-identify.  If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Faculty Recruitment Coordinator (recruit@uwindsor.ca). Should you require further information on accommodation, please visit the website of the Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility (http://www.uwindsor.ca/ohrea).  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Seminar: Prof. Robert Scott (University of Saskatchewan) - Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m. 186 Essex Hall

Seminar: Prof. Robert Scott (University of Saskatchewan)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Dr. Robert Scott
Department of Chemistry
University of Saskatchewan
Title: “Shining Light on Cluster and Nanoparticle Catalysts”
http://www.usask.ca/chemistry/groups/scott/

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Abstract:

In this seminar, I will discuss work in our group focusing on the development of cluster and nanoparticle catalysts which have high catalytic activity, excellent selectivity towards specific substrates, and excellent durability and recyclability. Our current work involves the synthesis and stabilization of clusters and nanoparticles in solution followed by activating them for catalysis. Several routes towards such goals will be discussed, including the activation of monolayer-protected Au clusters and structural control of bimetallic nanoparticles. Characterization tools which can assist in elucidating surface chemistry and/or cluster and nanoparticle sizes and structures will be detailed, including mass spectrometry, HRTEM, and in situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Canadian Light Source.

Seminar: Prof. Kai Kessenbrock (University of California, Irvine) - Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.

Seminar: Prof. Kai Kessenbrock (University of California, Irvine)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Prof. Kai Kessenbrock 
Department of Biological Chemistry
School of Medicine 
http://kessenbrocklab.com/kai-kessenbrock/

Title: “The role of the microenvironment in epithelial tissue homeostasis and breast cancer”

Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Seminar: Dr. Preston Chase (Green Centre Canada) - Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m. Room 311 Memorial Hall

Seminar: Dr. Preston Chase (Green Centre Canada)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Dr. Preston Chase
Director of Academic Business Development
Green Centre Canada

https://www.greencentrecanada.com/about-us/people/commercial/preston-chase/

Title: Development and Commercial Application of Novel Catalyst and Forward Osmosis Technologies

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room 311 Memorial Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

***Note special seminar day and time***

Abstract:

Progressing academic research from the initial invention discovery at the bench to industrial application requires significant efforts, including, for example, scaling of materials for testing, development and validation of new systems of a base technology, and optimization of processes. GreenCentre Canada is a Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research in the area of Green Chemistry, providing facilities for both academic and industrial partners to evaluate, develop and ultimately find commercial application for novel Green chemical technologies.

To highlight the path towards industrial applications, three projects that have been advanced at GreenCentre will be presented: the development and scale-up of highly active ester hydrogenation catalysts, the immobilization of a number of homogeneous catalysts for application in flow reactors directed to pharmaceuticals generation, and the development and process optimization of a low energy forward osmosis process. Each will have the contribution of the original inventors and additional efforts of GreenCentre to directly address specific industry-based challenges highlighted.

ChemDraw Prime available for department members

University of Windsor  - ChemDraw Prime 17 for Windows & Macintosh is now available for members of our department, and the Annual Site Subscription has been renewed.

Go to http://www.uwindsor.ca/softwaredepot to get your license.

***Thanks to Joe Lichaa for this update!

GA/TA Winter 2018 Job Postings - Deadline for Applications: Dec. 6, 2017

GA/TA Winter 2018 Job Postings - Deadline for Applications: Dec. 6, 2017

CLICK HERE for full information on these job postings

In accordance with Article 12:01 of the CUPE 4580 Collective Agreement the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry invites applications for TA / GA positions for the WINTER term 2018. 

Courses include:
59-110
59-141
59-230
59-261

Applications must be submitted to: Beth Kickham in Essex Hall, Room 275-D.

Deadline for receiving applications: Wednesday December 6th, 2017 or until positions have been filled.

Note that Graduate Assistants must apply each term by the application deadline, in accordance with Article 13

Seminar: Prof. Jean-Francois Morin (Laval University) - Fri. Nov. 3, 2017 @ 3 pm

Seminar: Prof. Jean-Francois Morin (Laval University)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017


Prof. Jean-Francois Morin
Department of Chemistry
Université Laval Québec
http://labnanoorg.chm.ulaval.ca/en/about

Title: Structurally Precise Nanographenes and Graphene Nanoribbons: from Stable Biradicals to Carbon Nanotubes Wrapping

Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Jeopardy! Night - Presented by the Undergraduate Chem Club - Nov. 1, 2017 from 6-8 pm

Jeopardy! Night - Presented by the Undergraduate Chem Club - Nov. 1, 2017 from 6-8 pm

Doors Open 5:30 pm
Jeopardy! from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Essex Hall Room 250

Open to all students, staff, and faculty for free!!

Grad Chem Club Halloween Party - Oct. 31 at 5 p.m.

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Researchers...

Come to the:

Grad Chem Club Halloween Party

October 31st, 2017, 5:00pm
Science Lounge 🕷 250 Essex Hall
$5.00 entry
includes pizza, desserts, 1 drink ticket
Costumes Encouraged!
Prizes for top 3 costumes!

Biochemist to study how proteins contribute to neurodegenerative diseases

Biochemist to study how proteins contribute to neurodegenerative diseases

UWindsor biochemistry graduate student Cody Caba and professor Bulent Mutus display the crystal structure of protein disulfide isomerase. Mutus received an NSERC Discovery Grant to examine cell proteins and structures and how they contribute to diseases.

Bulent Mutus is a micro mechanic.

But instead of fixing cars with wrenches and grease, the biochemist rolls up his sleeves and chops up and rebuilds proteins using microscopes and Petri dishes.

“If this enzyme were a car we would know where the engine is, but now we are looking at turning that engine off so the pathology will go away,” the UWindsor professor said.

Dr. Mutus recently received a $100,000 Discovery Grant over five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to examine cell proteins and structures and how they contribute to diseases like cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer’s.

The human body is made up of about 10 trillion cells that intricately interact with one another to ensure the body functions properly. When cell-to-cell and internal cell signaling is disturbed, the body cannot function properly, and acute diseases and physiological or neurological disorders occur.

“It’s similar to a teeter-totter, wherein a normal situation everything is balanced,” Mutus explained.

Every cell contains strings of amino acid molecules that fold onto themselves, forming structures called proteins.

The crystal structure of protein disulfide isomerase is pictured in this computer visualization. 

“If there’s something that messes up the balance within the cell, then the proteins don’t fold properly, and you get something called unfolded protein response,” he said.

Diseases reactive to the unfolded protein response include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s — as well as many others.

Proteins are encoded from DNA instructions and form in ways that allow them to combine with other substrates to perform work. When proteins do work, they are called enzymes and help the body to function properly.

Mutus’ NSERC research focuses on a sequence of amino acids containing sulfur, called cysteine amino acids, and the role they play in the regulation of enzymes. In the sequence, called the CXXC motif, two amino acids represented by the letter C for cysteine, are separated by any other two of the 23 amino acids, which are represented by X. These cysteine amino acids have a sulfur group that often binds to itself to create a stronger bond or fold within the protein structure.

Mutus said the sequence affects structure which in turn affects the function, and so improper sequences or structures can cause harmful pathologies in the body.

“Structure is related to function, and so if you build a building and you don’t have any doors it’s not going to be very functional,” the researcher said. “The same goes with a protein, and if a sequence works well in one particular protein, then it’s copied and repeatedly used somewhere else.”

By studying this CXXC protein sequence and its function in various cellular pathways, researchers can develop therapies to treat diseases caused by improper function.

Mutus’ lab has created probes that will bind to CXXC enzymes within the cells which can be followed to see their functions in internal cellular pathways.

He said an example of this is found in patients with cystic fibrosis. Within these patients, an enzyme called S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase (GSNOR) is unable to form at appropriate levels in the lungs and can’t function in ion transport.

“If that ion transport protein can’t mature and enter into the cell membrane where it belongs, then fluid essentially starts to accumulate in the lungs and leads to infections,” Mutus said. “So if an enzyme contains this CXXC motif, and we think we can tweak onto something that’s a very small run of four or five amino acids, where we can play with one of the amino acids and really regulate the enzyme, like turning a car engine on and off to control negative pathologies in the body.”

Mutus’ research will eventually have implications in drug design as a means of controlling these important enzymes involved in pathologies and diseases that may affect all of us.

See the full story at the UWindsor Daily News

Seminar: Tony Durst (University of Ottawa) - Fri. Oct. 27, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.

Seminar: Tony Durst (University of Ottawa)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2017

Prof. Tony Durst
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences
University of Ottawa

Title: Prospecting for Natural Products in Costa Rica

Friday, October 27, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Abstract:

Our twenty five year long collaboration with botanists in Costa Rica has given us access to the vast plant biodiversity of Costa Rica. Joint work John Arnason (Biology) and Zul Merali (Psychology) at the University of Ottawa to enabled us to isolate novel chemical compounds and discover new applications of known entities. The seminar will focus on the development of new CYP450 inhibitors as potential insecticide synergists emanating from dillapiol isolated from Piper aduncum and the discovery of the anti-anxiety principle in Souroubea sympetala, a relatively rare Costa Rican vine. The latter work has led to a commercial product for the treatment of noise related anxiety in dogs. This product has shown excellent results in an animal model for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress. Health Canada approved Human Safety trials will be carried out shortly.

Tea with Lee - Thurs. Oct. 12, 2017 in 237 Essex Hall

TEA WITH DR. LEE

at 3 p.m.

Faculty of Science Boardroom, #237 Essex Hall

Thursday, October 12, 2017

***Everyone welcome***

***bring your own tea cup or mug***