Peter Dervan

Last updated
Peter B. Dervan
Peter B. Dervan 2017 DSC8599.JPG
Dervan in 2017
Born (1945-06-28) June 28, 1945 (age 78)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater Boston College
Yale University
Spouse Jacqueline Barton
Awards
Scientific career
Fields Organic chemistry
Institutions Yale, Stanford, Caltech
Thesis The stereochemistry of the thermal rearrangements of trans- and cis-1,2-dialkenylcyclobutanes  (1973)
Doctoral advisor Jerome A. Berson
Doctoral students
Other notable studentsPost-docs:
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg "Science is the most fun in the whole wide world", Medal of Science 50 Videos -- Peter Dervan and Jacqueline Barton, National Science Foundation

Peter B. Dervan (born June 28, 1945) is the Bren Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. The primary focus of his research is the development and study of small organic molecules that can sequence-specifically recognize DNA, [1] a field in which he is an internationally recognized authority. [2] The most important of these small molecules are pyrrole–imidazole polyamides. [3] Dervan is credited with influencing "the course of research in organic chemistry through his studies at the interface of chemistry and biology" as a result of his work on "the chemical principles involved in sequence-specific recognition of double helical DNA". [4] He is the recipient of many awards, including the National Medal of Science (2006). [5] [6]

Contents

Early life and education

Peter B. Dervan was born on June 28, 1945, in Boston, Massachusetts, in an Irish immigrant family. He grew up in a family of six in Dorchester, a working-class suburb of Boston. [7] Dervan attended Boston College High School and received his B.S. degree from Boston College in 1967, [7] [8] where professor Francis Bennett sparked his interest in organic chemistry. [5] He began graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin then moved with Jerome A. Berson's research group to Yale University where he completed his graduate research in physical organic chemistry, [9] studying ways in which chemical bonds are created and broken apart. [5] He received his Ph.D. degree from Yale University in 1972, for The Stereochemistry of the Thermal Rearrangements of Trans-1,2-Dialkenylcyclobutanes and Cis-1,2-Dialkenylcyclobutanes. [10] [11] He then became an NIH postdoctoral fellow at Stanford, working with Eugene van Tamelen. [8]

Career

Dervan in 1986 Peter Dervan 1986.png
Dervan in 1986

Dervan became an assistant professor of chemistry at Caltech in 1973, [8] joining John D. Roberts, Robert G. Bergman and Robert Ellsworth Ireland in the organic chemistry group. [3] He became an associate professor in 1979, and professor in 1982. He was appointed as the first Bren Professor of Chemistry in 1988. [12] [8] He served as Chair of Caltech's Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from 1994 to 1999. [13] Dervan has published more than 360 papers and taught hundreds of students. [9]

Dervan is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (1986), [14] the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1987), [15] and the American Philosophical Society (2002). [16] He is an elected member of the French Academy of Sciences (2000) [17] and the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina (2004- ). [18]

Dervan is a co-founder and founding member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Gilead Sciences (1987). [19] [20] [21] [22] He served on the Board of Directors for Beckman Coulter beginning in 1997. [23] He served as a Trustee of Yale University (2008-2017). [13] [9] He served as a member of the Board of Scientific Governors of The Scripps Research Institute. [24] In 2014, he presented the ACS Chemical Biology Lecture. [25] As of 2016 he became chair of the scientific advisory board of the Robert A. Welch Foundation. [26]

Research

While teaching a class at Caltech in Advanced Organic Chemistry, Dervan came to a realization that would guide his future career: rather than working to "close" a classic problem that had been previously defined, he would seek to define and "open" a new research area that could be studied for many years. [3] The problem he chose was molecular recognition in biological systems. [5] At the time, DNA sequencing was in its infancy and the human genome project was undreamt of. Dervan chose to apply ideas from synthetic chemistry to biology and the study of DNA, creating novel binding molecules to be used for DNA recognition. [3]

"I would study weak noncovalent bonds in the most challenging of solvents, water. Therefore, the ‘synthetic objective’ would be the three-dimensional assembly of multiple specific noncovalent bonds in aqueous media. Biological molecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, would be my target and small molecule synthesis combined with physical characterization and the methods of biology would provide the experimental foundation. I would move from the gas phase world of hydrocarbon rearrangements to the aqueous world of nucleic acids and molecular recognition." [3]

By studying weak intermolecular interactions and creating novel synthetic molecules specific to particular DNA sequences, Dervan has been able to explore the complex biological systems underlying DNA's structure and function. [9] A human cell contains approximately 20,000 genes, whose expression is controlled by the binding of protein transcription factors in the promoter region of each gene. [3] Through pioneering work in DNA recognition, [9] Dervan has determined many of the chemical principles underlying sequence-specific recognition of DNA, [3] and enabled researchers to better understand the mechanism of action of many anti-tumor, anti-viral and anti-biotic drugs. [12]

Dervan determined that small molecules could be synthesized and used to selectively bind DNA at the transcription factor/DNA interface, effectively rewriting the biological codes controlling transcription by acting on the promoters of selected genes. [5] The creation of synthetic small molecules with affinities and sequence specificities for predetermined DNA sequences makes it possible to design cell-permeable molecules for the regulation of gene expression. [8] The use of small molecules to regulate gene expression in living cells has possible application to human medicine. [3] [27]

The most important of these small molecules are pyrrole–imidazole polyamides. [27] [28] Dervan's lab has identified pairing rules to control the DNA sequence specificity of minor-groove binding polyamides that contain the aromatic ring amino acids hydroxypyrrole (Hp), imidazole (Im), and pyrrole (Py). [29] [27] [30]

Awards

Dervan has received a number of awards for both research and teaching, [8] including those listed below. He was awarded the 2006 National Medal of Science in 2007 from President George Bush at the White House for “his fundamental research contributions at the interface of organic chemistry and biology” as well as contributions to education and industry. [6] [31] [5] A minor planet has been named in his honor, 4314 Dervan. [32]

Personal

In 1990, Dervan married Jacqueline Barton, a fellow chemist and professor at Caltech. He has a son, Andrew, from a previous marriage, and a daughter, Elizabeth, from his marriage with Barton. [49] [13] All four hold degrees from Yale University. [9]

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leroy Hood</span> American biologist (born 1938)

Leroy "Lee" Edward Hood is an American biologist who has served on the faculties at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of Washington. Hood has developed ground-breaking scientific instruments which made possible major advances in the biological sciences and the medical sciences. These include the first gas phase protein sequencer (1982), for determining the sequence of amino acids in a given protein; a DNA synthesizer (1983), to synthesize short sections of DNA; a peptide synthesizer (1984), to combine amino acids into longer peptides and short proteins; the first automated DNA sequencer (1986), to identify the order of nucleotides in DNA; ink-jet oligonucleotide technology for synthesizing DNA and nanostring technology for analyzing single molecules of DNA and RNA.

Peter G. Schultz is an American chemist. He is the CEO and Professor of Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute, the founder and former director of GNF, and the founding director of the California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), established in 2012. In August 2014, Nature Biotechnology ranked Schultz the #1 top translational researcher in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacqueline Barton</span> American chemist (born 1952)

Jacqueline K. Barton, is an American chemist. She worked as a professor of chemistry at Hunter College (1980–82), and at Columbia University (1983–89) before joining the California Institute of Technology. In 1997 she became the Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor of Chemistry and from 2009 to 2019, the Norman Davidson Leadership Chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltech. She currently is the John G. Kirkwood and Arthur A. Noyes Professor of Chemistry, Emerita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chemical biology</span> Scientific discipline

Chemical biology is a scientific discipline between the fields of chemistry and biology. The discipline involves the application of chemical techniques, analysis, and often small molecules produced through synthetic chemistry, to the study and manipulation of biological systems. Although often confused with biochemistry, which studies the chemistry of biomolecules and regulation of biochemical pathways within and between cells, chemical biology remains distinct by focusing on the application of chemical tools to address biological questions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Schreiber</span> American chemist

Stuart Schreiber, Ph.D. is the Morris Loeb Research Professor at Harvard University, a co-Founder of the Broad Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Emeritus, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine. He currently leads Arena BioWorks.

Therapeutic gene modulation refers to the practice of altering the expression of a gene at one of various stages, with a view to alleviate some form of ailment. It differs from gene therapy in that gene modulation seeks to alter the expression of an endogenous gene whereas gene therapy concerns the introduction of a gene whose product aids the recipient directly.

The Willard Gibbs Award, presented by the Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society, was established in 1910 by William A. Converse (1862–1940), a former Chairman and Secretary of the Chicago Section of the society and named for Professor Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839–1903) of Yale University. Gibbs, whose formulation of the Phase Rule founded a new science, is considered by many to be the only American-born scientist whose discoveries are as fundamental in nature as those of Newton and Galileo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry B. Gray</span> American inorganic chemist

Harry Barkus Gray is the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry at California Institute of Technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Eschenmoser</span> Swiss organic chemist (1925–2023)

Albert Jakob Eschenmoser (5 August 1925 – 14 July 2023) was a Swiss organic chemist, best known for his work on the synthesis of complex heterocyclic natural compounds, most notably vitamin B12. In addition to his significant contributions to the field of organic synthesis, Eschenmoser pioneered work in the Origins of Life (OoL) field with work on the synthetic pathways of artificial nucleic acids. Before retiring in 2009, Eschenmoser held tenured teaching positions at the ETH Zurich and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California as well as visiting professorships at the University of Chicago, Cambridge University, and Harvard.

Robert George Bergman is an American chemist. He is Professor of the Graduate School and Gerald E. K. Branch Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1-Methylimidazole</span> Chemical compound

1-Methylimidazole or N-methylimidazole is an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound with the formula CH3C3H3N2. It is a colourless liquid that is used as a specialty solvent, a base, and as a precursor to some ionic liquids. It is a fundamental nitrogen heterocycle and as such mimics for various nucleoside bases as well as histidine and histamine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JoAnne Stubbe</span> American chemist

JoAnne Stubbe is an American chemist best known for her work on ribonucleotide reductases, for which she was awarded the National Medal of Science in 2009. In 2017, she retired as a Professor of Chemistry and Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Laura Lee Kiessling is an American chemist and the Novartis Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Kiessling's research focuses on elucidating and exploiting interactions on the cell surface, especially those mediated by proteins binding to carbohydrates. Multivalent protein-carbohydrate interactions play roles in cell-cell recognition and signal transduction. Understanding and manipulating these interactions provides tools to study biological processes and design therapeutic treatments. Kiessling's interdisciplinary research combines organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, structural biology, and molecular and cell biology.

Alanna Schepartz is an American professor and scientist. She is currently the T.Z. and Irmgard Chu Distinguished Chair in Chemistry at University of California, Berkeley. She was formerly the Sterling Professor of Chemistry at Yale University.

Linda Carol Hsieh-Wilson is an American chemist and the Milton and Rosalind Chang Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. She is known for her work in chemical neurobiology on understanding the structure and function of carbohydrates in the nervous system. Her studies have revealed critical roles for carbohydrates and protein glycosylation in fundamental processes ranging from cellular metabolism to memory storage. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2022.

Norman Ralph Davidson was an American molecular biologist notable for advancing genome research, member of the National Academy of Sciences, received a National Medal of Science from U.S. President Bill Clinton, was a professor at Caltech. The New York Times called Davidson "major figure in advancing genome research ... whose groundbreaking work in molecular biology led to the earliest understanding of the overall structure of genomes". The Los Angeles Times called him "a groundbreaking Caltech chemical biologist". President Bill Clinton cited the scientist for "breakthroughs in chemistry and biology which have led to the earliest understanding of the overall structure of genomes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santanu Bhattacharya</span> Indian chemical biologist

Santanu Bhattacharya is an Indian chemical biologist and former professor at the Indian Institute of Science. At, present he is the Director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati (IISER-Tirupati). He is known for his studies of unnatural amino acids, oligopeptides, designed and natural lipids and biologically active natural products and is an elected fellow of the Indian National Science Academy The World Academy of Sciences and the Indian Academy of Sciences The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards, in 2003, for his contributions to chemical sciences. He is also a recipient of the National Bioscience Award for Career Development of the Department of Biotechnology (2002) and the TWAS Prize (2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distamycin</span> Chemical compound

Distamycin is a polyamide-antibiotic, which acts as a minor groove binder, binding to the small furrow of the double helix.

Pyrrole–imidazole polyamides (PIPs) are a class of polyamides have the ability to bind to minor grooves found in the DNA helix. Scientists are experimenting with it as a drug-delivery mode that can switch genes on and off, as well as epigenetic modification in gene therapy.

Amanda E. Hargrove is a chemist and professor at Duke University. Hargrove is also the editor-in-chief of Medicinal Research Reviews, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Arrakis Therapeutics. At Duke University, Hargrove directs an interdisciplinary research program in chemical biology that focuses on harnessing the specific interactions between small molecules and RNA, and using those RNA-small molecule interactions to probe the structure, and function of RNA. The long-term goal of the group's research is to identify specific molecule-RNA interactions that may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of viral infection and human disease. She has received numerous awards for her scientific research, teaching, and service in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

References

  1. ↑ Dervan1986, P.B. (1986). "Design of sequence-specific-DNA-binding molecules". Science. 232 (4749): 464–471. Bibcode:1986Sci...232..464D. doi:10.1126/science.2421408. PMID   2421408.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ "Caltech Chemist Peter Dervan to Deliver Lecture". Southwestern Newsroom. Retrieved 15 June 2017. "Professor Dervan is an internationally renowned chemist and recognized pioneer in chemical biology."
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dervan, Peter B. (2001). "Molecular Recognition of DNA by Small Molecules (personal essay in acceptance of the Tetrahedron Prize)" (PDF). Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 9 (9): 2215–2235. doi:10.1016/s0968-0896(01)00262-0. PMID   11553460 . Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  4. 1 2 Avery, John (March 29, 1996). "Chemist Wins 1996 Grand Prize from la Maison de la Chimie". Caltech News. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mantell, Suzanne. "A day at the races". Boston College Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "2006 National Medal of Science Winners". United States Government. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  7. 1 2 Dervan, Peter B. (March 20, 2022). "Priestley Medal address 2022: Skydiving into the interface of chemistry and biology". Chemical & Engineering News . Vol. 100, no. 10. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Carl Shipp Marvel Lecturer 2002-03 - Peter B. Dervan". The Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wohl, Shirlee (November 16, 2011). "Peter Dervan, GRD '72". Yale Scientific. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "Peter B. Dervan". Chemistry Tree. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  11. ↑ Dervan, Peter Brendan (1973). The stereochemistry of the thermal rearrangements of trans- and cis-1,2-dialkenylcyclobutanes (Ph.D. thesis). Yale University. OCLC   418780449. ProQuest   47891156.
  12. 1 2 "For Your Information". Analytical Chemistry. 60 (6): 379A. 30 May 2012. doi:10.1021/ac00157a715.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Pioneering Organic Chemist Elected to Yale Board of Trustees". Yale News. June 4, 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "Chemists elected to National Academy of Sciences". Chemical & Engineering News. 64 (18): 6. 5 May 1986. doi:10.1021/cen-v064n018.p006a.
  15. ↑ "NEWS". Analytical Chemistry. 60 (18): 1029A. September 1988. doi:10.1021/ac00169a711.
  16. ↑ "Peter B. Dervan". American Philosophical Society. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Peter Dervan". Institute de France Académie des Sciences. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  18. ↑ Schnitzer-Ungefug, Jutta (December 8, 2004). "Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina wählt neue Mitglieder Prof". Informationsdienst Wissenschaft. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  19. ↑ Jones, Stephanie (1992). The biotechnologists and the evolution of biotech enterprises in the USA and Europe. Basingstoke: Macmillan. p. 39. ISBN   978-0333550212 . Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  20. ↑ Patrick, Margaret (August 19, 2015). "Gilead Sciences: Investor's Overview of a Leading Biotech Company". Market Realist. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  21. ↑ "gilead sciences inc (GILD:NASDAQ GS)". Bloomberg. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  22. ↑ "10-K405 GILEAD SCIENCES INC filed this Form 10-K405 on 03/31/1998". Investors - Gilead Sciences, Inc. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "DEF 14A 1 ddef14a.htm DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT FOR BECKMAN COULTER, INC". UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  24. ↑ "Board of Scientific Governors". The Scripps Research Institute. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  25. ↑ "ACS Chemical Biology Lecture" (PDF). Division of Biological Chemistry. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  26. ↑ "Peter B. Dervan" (PDF). Robert A. Welch Foundation. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  27. 1 2 3 Dervan, Peter B; Edelson, Benjamin S (June 2003). "Recognition of the DNA minor groove by pyrrole-imidazole polyamides". Current Opinion in Structural Biology. 13 (3): 284–299. doi:10.1016/S0959-440X(03)00081-2. PMID   12831879.
  28. ↑ Dervan, PB; Edelson, BS (June 2003). "Recognition of the DNA minor groove by pyrrole-imidazole polyamides". Current Opinion in Structural Biology. 13 (3): 284–99. doi:10.1016/s0959-440x(03)00081-2. PMID   12831879.
  29. ↑ Swalley, Susanne E.; Baird, Eldon E.; Dervan, Peter B. (October 1997). "A Pyrrole-Imidazole Polyamide Motif for Recognition of Eleven Base Pair Sequences in the Minor Groove of DNA". Chemistry - A European Journal. 3 (10): 1600–1607. doi:10.1002/chem.19970031009.
  30. ↑ White, Sarah; Baird, Eldon E.; Dervan, Peter B. (August 1997). "On the pairing rules for recognition in the minor groove of DNA by pyrrole-imidazole polyamides". Chemistry & Biology. 4 (8): 569–578. doi: 10.1016/S1074-5521(97)90243-X . PMID   9281524.
  31. ↑ National Science Foundation - The President's National Medal of Science
  32. ↑ Schmadel, Lutz (2014). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names: Addendum to 6th Edition: 2012-2014. New York: Springer. p. 48. ISBN   9783319176772 . Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  33. ↑ "Past Recipients of the Harrison Howe Award". Rocherster Section ACS. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "Arthur C. Cope Award". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  35. ↑ "The Willard Gibbs Meda" (PDF). American Chemical Society. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  36. ↑ "AWARDS". Chemical & Engineering News. 72 (13): 48. 28 March 1994. doi:10.1021/cen-v072n013.p048.
  37. ↑ "Remsen Award". American Chemistry Society. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  38. ↑ "1998 Remsen Award" (PDF). The Chesapeake Chemist. LIV (5): 1, 4. 1998. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  39. ↑ "Alfred Bader Award in Bioinorganic or Bioorganic Chemistry". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  40. ↑ "Max Tishler Prize Lecturers". Harvard University. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  41. ↑ "The Pauling Medal Awardees". The Pauling Blog. April 27, 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  42. ↑ "Tolman Award". SCALACS. 2006-01-10. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  43. ↑ "Prize Winners". Harvey Prize. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  44. ↑ "Ronald Breslow Award for Achievement in Biomimetic Chemistry". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  45. ↑ "Medalists by Year". Yale Alumni Association. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  46. ↑ "Frank H. Westheimer Prize Lecturers". Harvard University. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  47. ↑ Priestley Medal 2022
  48. ↑ Arnaud, Celia Henry (March 20, 2022). "2022 Priestley Medalist Peter B. Dervan pioneered treating DNA as an organic molecule". Chemical & Engineering News . 100 (10).
  49. ↑ "Meet Jacqueline K. Barton, 2015 Priestley Medalist". Chemical & Engineering News. 93 (12). Mar 23, 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.